Ricky Minor is a Monroe, Louisiana-born American music director and composer who is best known as the musical director and bandleader on shows like ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’, ‘The American Idol’ and ‘Don’t Forget the Lyrics’. The music world’s quintessential artist, Minor was born on 6 September 1959, and has been active in the music world since 1989. Apart from being an accomplished music director and producer, he is also a well-known author.
One of the greatest music directors, band leaders of all time, and author, you must be wondering how rich Ricky Minor is in 2015. Well, Ricky Minor’s net worth is estimated by sources to be a respectable $5 million; his major source of income is clearly his musical career. Over his career, his association with “American Idol” and “The Tonight Show” along with his numerous superstar tours including Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera and Beyoncé has helped him become a well-known millionaire of the music industry.
Rickey Minor Net Worth $5 Million
Minor the musician got his first break at the early age of 19, playing bass for artists like “Gladys Knight and the Pips”. This musician’s career continued strong when he finally collaborated with another great artist, Whitney Houston, at first as her band member, and then as her music director for a decade from 1989. However, after 1999, Minor decided to turn into an arranger, music composer and music producer for TV shows like Grammy Awards, and music director for ‘American Idol’. Needless to say, these projects have been very significant in adding to his present net worth.
Minor really rose to fame while serving as a bandleader and music director for the successful American TV Series “American Idol”, on which he was responsible for working with the contestants to organize and execute their songs for each week’s live performance. He left ‘American Idol’ in 2010 after its ninth season to lead ‘The Tonight Show’ band.
In addition to running the “American Idol” for six years, Ricky has been the musical director for reputable events such as Super Bowl Awards, Grammy awards, NAACP Image Awards and People’s Choice Awards. He has also served as a producer for popular artists like Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys and Ray Charles at different times. For his contribution towards the music industry, Minor has also been nominated for four Prime Time Emmy Awards for his outstanding work as a music director.
Apart from being an accomplished musician, Ricky Minor has also tried his luck as an author. His 2009 book, “There’s No Traffic on the Extra Mile”, introduced him as a writer. Through the book, he has tried to share his recollection of collaborating with many of the aforementioned performers.
Talking about his personal life, Ricky Minor is married to Karen and they have a son and currently reside in Southern California, USA. So, with a net worth of $5 Million, Ricky Minor is one of the more successful and richer musician in the music industry who has been enjoying his successful career.
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, Nonfiction, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction
TV Shows
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
TV Series musician - 9 episodes, 2011 - 2013 composer - 8 episodes, 2011 - 2013
A Hollywood Christmas Celebration at the Grove
2012
TV Movie musical director
The 2012 Billboard Music Awards
2012
TV Special music director
A Hollywood Christmas Celebration at the Grove
2011
TV Movie musical director
The 9th Annual TV Land Awards
2011
TV Special music director
An Evening of Stars: Tribute to Chaka Khan
2011
TV Movie musical director
American Idol
2007-2010
TV Series musical director - 75 episodes
The 8th Annual TV Land Awards
2010
TV Special music director
The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards
2010
TV Special musical director
The 36th Annual People's Choice Awards
2010
TV Special music producer
The 51st Annual Grammy Awards
2009
TV Special musical director
Don't Forget the Lyrics!
TV Series musical director - 32 episodes, 2007 - 2008 musician - 3 episodes, 2007
The 50th Annual Grammy Awards
2008
TV Special musical director
The Next Great American Band
2007
TV Series musical director - 11 episodes
America's Got Talent
2006-2007
TV Series musical director - 8 episodes
High School Musical: The Concert - Extreme Access Pass
2007
Video musical director - as Ricky Minor
The 5th Annual TV Land Awards
2007
TV Special musical director
The 49th Annual Grammy Awards
2007
TV Special musical director
Celebrity Duets
2006
TV Series musical director
Life Is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story
2006
TV Movie musical director - uncredited
Cedric the Entertainer: Taking You Higher
2006
TV Special documentary musical director
Jamie Foxx: Unpredictable
2006
TV Special documentary musical director
Genius: A Night for Ray Charles
2004
TV Special musical director
Britney Spears Live from Miami
2004
TV Movie documentary music producer
Motown Live
1998
TV Series musical director
Whitney Houston: Classic Whitney
1997
TV Movie musical director
Whitney Houston: The Concert for a New South Africa
1994
TV Movie documentary musical director
Welcome Home Heroes with Whitney Houston
1991
TV Movie musical director
Composer
Title
Year
Status
Character
2012 Do Something Awards
2012
TV Special
The 3rd Annual CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute
2009
TV Movie documentary
The 40th NAACP Image Awards
2009
TV Special
The 50th Annual Grammy Awards
2008
TV Special
The 5th Annual TV Land Awards
2007
TV Special
Life Is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story
2006
TV Movie
The 3rd Annual TV Land Awards
2005
TV Special
American Idol
2005
TV Series 2 episodes
Cedric the Entertainer Presents
2002
TV Series
Whitney Houston: This is My Life
1992
TV Movie
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
VH1 Divas 2012
2012
TV Movie executive producer
41st NAACP Image Awards
2010
TV Special co-producer
Stevie Wonder: In Performance at the White House - The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize
2009
TV Special producer
The 40th NAACP Image Awards
2009
TV Special co-producer
America United: In Support of Our Troops
2008
TV Movie executive producer
37th NAACP Image Awards
2006
TV Special co-producer
Jamie Foxx: Unpredictable
2006
TV Special documentary producer
36th NAACP Image Awards
2005
TV Special co-producer
Motown 45
2004
TV Special co-producer
Whitney Houston: Classic Whitney
1997
TV Movie associate producer
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Baggage Claim
2013
writer: "Is It Love"
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
2011
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Poseidon
2006
producer: "Auld Lang Syne"
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
41st NAACP Image Awards
2010
TV Special
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Real Husbands of Hollywood
2013
TV Series
Rickey Minor
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Louie
2012
TV Series special thanks - 1 episode
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Insider
2015
TV Series
Himself
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
2010-2014
TV Series
Himself - Bandleader
Teens Wanna Know
2013
TV Series
Himself - Guest
2013 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards
2013
TV Special
Himself - Presenter: Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special / Outstanding Sound Mixing for Nonfiction Programming / Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One-Hour) / ...
Unsung
2013
TV Series documentary
Himself
A Hollywood Christmas Celebration at the Grove
2012
TV Movie
Himself
Happy on the Ground: 8 Days at Grammy Camp
2011
Documentary
Himself
American Idol
2007-2010
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Band Leader
The Mo'Nique Show
2010
TV Series
Himself
The Oprah Winfrey Show
2009
TV Series
Himself
Don't Forget the Lyrics!
2007-2009
TV Series
Himself - Band Leader
Straight from the Horses Mouth
2009
Video
Himself
Stevie Wonder: In Performance at the White House - The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize
2009
TV Special
The Morning Show with Mike & Juliet
2009
TV Series
Himself
America's Got Talent
2007
TV Series
Himself
Karaoke Superstars
2006
TV Movie
Himself
In the Cutz
2006
TV Series
TV Land's Top Ten
2006
TV Series documentary
Himself
The Disco Ball
2003
TV Special
Himself
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2016
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Music Direction
Smithsonian Salutes Ray Charles: In Performance at the White House (2016)
2011
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Music Direction
An Evening of Stars: Tribute to Chaka Khan (2011)
2009
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Music Direction
The 51st Annual Grammy Awards (2009)
2008
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Music Direction
The 50th Annual Grammy Awards (2008)
2005
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Music Direction
Genius: A Night for Ray Charles (2004)
Known for movies
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (2010-2014) as Music Department
American Idol (2005-2010) as Music Department
Don't Forget the Lyrics! (2007-2009) as Music Department
2013 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards (2013) as Himself - Presenter: Outstanding Sound Mixing for