Ricky Luster, Sr. Born Richard Alan Luster on August 29, 1961 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and raised up in Durham, North Carolina is a legendary gospel singer/songwriter who was raised in a home with 14 other brothers and sisters. Ricky was first introduced to gospel music by his oldest brother Ronald Luster who sang and played the guitar and who also taught Ricky and his brothers how to harmonize and sing background parts.
In 1975 The Luster Brothers group was formed and Ricky began singing along with his Brothers throughout the triangle area, this is also during the time when he would learn how to play the Bass Guitar and eventually begin playing for the group. Some of Ricky’s earliest influences were Andrae Crouch and The Disciples, Walter Hawkins, The Mighty Clouds of Joy and many others groups.
In 1982 Ricky and his youngest brother Darrell were offered the opportunity to travel and sing Gospel music professionally with The legendary gospel group The Highway Q C’s from Chicago, Ill. They were a musical tag team that added professionalism and a soulful style to the group. In 1984 after traveling and singing with the QC’s for almost 2 years Ricky and Darrell joined forces along with good friend Charles Johnson (formerly of The legendary gospel group The Sensational Nightingales) to start what would begin as Charles Johnson and the Luster Brothers and then soon become Charles Johnson and the Revivers. The group would go on to sing and travel in the Southern Gospel music circuit and share the stage with some of the most well known groups in that genre, such as “The Cathedrals“ “The Florida Boys” “Bill and Gloria Gaither”, “J.D. Sumner and the Stamps” “The Hinsons” and so many other popular groups.
For 11 years Ricky was a member of the Charles Johnson and The Revivers. Securing their place in Southern Gospel Music history, The song, “I Can’t Even Walk (Without You Holding My Hand) was voted the #3 song on the 1993 Southern Gospel Singing News Chart. Ricky considers it a great honor to have shared the stage with Charles Johnson as well as other members of the group, and the incredible ride of singing this timeless, great song.
Ricky has also engaged in other major songs of gospel music, such as, “Let’s Have Church”, “I’ll See You In The Rapture”, “Sealed Til The Day Of Redemption”, and so many others.
Traveling internationally, the music of Ricky Luster, Sr. has graced Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Austria, and Spain. He has also faired well on home soil, blessed and grateful to have been in the making of three “Gaither Homecoming” videos.
Ricky shares a powerful testimony of saving grace, “Jesus saved me in 1978 while down at the altar at an old- fashioned country church house. A few years later, He gloriously filled me with his precious Holy Ghost, with the evidence of speaking in tongues. Ever since that day, I have never been the same.” And furthermore, “In the year 2000, God called me to preach the gospel. That was a frightening awakening for me. I knew full-well what comes with this calling. Nevertheless, I soon found out that obeying Him would be the only choice for me.” Authentic Pentecostals long for, and envision, such a testimony.
After many years of traveling in groups, Ricky decided to embark upon a solo career. With the help of the Good Lord, a solo project was released, entitled, The Good Shepherd. An excited Luster reflects on the finished project, “This awesome album has a plethora of soulful and exhilarating songs that will touch the very core of every heart! The title cut, “The Good Shepherd” is a sure hit and potential award-winning song that will penetrate the hearts of all who hear it!” A brand-new Christmas song, written and composed by Ricky, “My Favorite Time Of The Year” is also featured on the album. Through this song, Ricky naturally expresses from his heart, and from his soul, what Christmas truly means to him.
Holding on to that Christmas Spirit, in a Christ way all year long, seems lost on our world today. Ricky preaches, “We are living in a time, right now, where there is so much division going on, not only among the unbelievers, but also the among the believers. Jesus is the only true Prince of Peace in the midst of so much confusion. If we want to live in eternity with Him, we must find a way, here on earth, to put aside all hate and strife. Let us learn to join in prayer for one another, while we still have the opportunity.”
Ricky’s latest single, “This Is My Year” is a song that brings back hope and expectation. “Many in our world have gone through, some are still going through, tough times. Yet, He remains the same. He still wants us to declare and proclaim those precious promises that belong to us. I can’t wait to see what great things 2022 will hold for Ricky Luster, Sr., and not just for myself. For all who will believe, this can be your year, too.”
“My mission: To go out into the hedges and highways, compelling men, women, boys, and girls to come to know Jesus. My goal: To record an album that will be heard all over the world, touching the hearts of millions, pointing them to Jesus.”
Most assuredly, Ricky Luster, Sr. will not look back, will always keep pressing forward until his dreams, desires, and calling are accomplished.