In 1984, Dillard joined the late Milton Brunson's Thompson Community Singers. At the same time, he started hanging out with renowned club DJ Frankie Knuckles and began recording dance and hip-hop records. Aside from a half dozen-guest appearances on various dance tracks, Dillard recorded his own album "Let The Music Use You" which was released in Europe and was imported into the United States. In spite of his growing success in the club market, Dillard says, "My heart was in the gospel. I always wanted to do gospel. The other stuff was just an opportunity to record. I wanted to bring a more contemporary style into gospel for choirs." It's those contemporary innovations in gospel that have caught Kirk Franklin and the Winans explaining their motivations to the more sanctified members of the church at times. "I don't criticize because I believe all music was created to praise God and all we're doing is taking back what the devil stole from us and using it to please God."
Dillard says God led him to found the New Generation Chorale in 1988. The next year they won the McDonald's Chicagoland Choir competition. One day he met producer Butch McGee in a parking lot. McGee had heard of him and signed Dillard's group on their reputation alone. New G's first album "The Promise" was released in 1990 and won them a Grammy nomination and a GMWA Excellence award in 1991. The next year the choir was featured in Steve Martin's movie "Leap of Faith." By the time their second live album "A Holy Ghost Take Over" debuted in 1993, Dillard was a consultant on Whoopie Goldberg's "Sister Act II" movie and the choir had appeared on a PBS Television Special "Going Home To Gospel” featuring Patti La Belle and Albertina Walker. In 1994 New G won their first Stellar Award for contemporary choir of the year and recorded all the background vocals for Gospel Queen Albertina Walker's Stellar Award winning album "He Keeps On Blessing Me." "It was a delight to work with the Queen," Dillard laughs just thinking of the experience. "She keeps me laughing." In 1995 New G's third album "Hallelujah" was released and the choir had its first club hit. They collaborated with Frankie Knuckles and Adeva on "Walkin'" from their "Welcome to the Real World'" album. The Virgin Records single became a Top 20 hit on Billboard magazine's club chart.
By 1996 New G had moved to Detroit-based Crystal Rose Records. Their debut "Worked It Out" sold 30,000 pre-orders out of the box. New G had their biggest promotional push yet. The album premiered at Dillard's alma mater before 1,500 screaming students. They capped the push off with a listening party/concert at the Cubby Bear nightclub and a Record Town appearance that rang up almost $10,000 in one day sales. The album quickly jumped to the Billboard gospel top ten and stayed on the chart for months. Then, in 2000 the group leaped back on the charts with the scorcher “No Limit” CD. The single “The Holy Place,” a classic choir vocal with a subtle hip-hop rhythm, buoyed the sales. Beginning back in 1997, the group made their first tour of Europe where they were particularly successful in Germany. "I was surprised that we were so embraced," Dillard says. "But years before I told the choir that we were going to be international and God made that happen for us." Aside from international acclaim, the group has opened for Patti LaBelle and Bonnie Raitt among others. In 2004, the group released top seller, “Unplugged…The Way Church Used To Be”, an album that revisited traditional church choir anthems and incorporated the “Ricky Dillard Sound”.
Now in a new stage in his life, Ricky decided to take more control of career. In 2006, he parted ways with Crystal Rose Records and started his own label, Animated Entertainment Inc. With backing from Alliant Music Group and EMI Gospel, this company is ready to soar. The first project from the label is the new Ricky Dillard & New G project entitled The 7th Episode: “Live in Toronto”. This historical project will definitely delight the ears of many as it truly defines a new level of ministry for Ricky & his aggregation.
Grace
Ricky Dillard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh grace, unmerited grace
When He died, He left us a new covenant and it's called grace
Whoso'er believeth in Him shall not perish, unmerited grace
If I make it home, turn my keys in the door, that's call grace
If I make it inside and everything's all right, unmerited grace
He sends His grace always
To remind me of His love and tender care
Grace is there
Even when I've done wrong
Unemployed, annoyed and feeling void, He sends His grace
God the source can send the resource and that's unmerited grace
Problems here, problems there, situations falling everywhere, He sends His grace
He fixed my heart that was broken apart oh yes, unmerited grace
He sends His grace always
To remind me of His love and tender care
Grace is there
Even when I've done wrong
He sends His grace always
To remind me of His love and tender care
Grace is there
Even when I've done wrong
He sends His grace always
To remind me of His love and tender care
Grace, is there to cover me
His grace, is there to hold me
His grace, and mercy to aid me
His grace, grace
His grace, a way to remind me of His love and tender care
Grace is better even when I've done wrong
The lyrics of the song "Grace" by Ricky Dillard are a powerful testimony of the unmerited favor and love of God. The song begins with the singer testifying about the amazing grace of God, which is given to us freely and without any merit on our part. The grace of God is emphasized throughout the song, and the singer gives different scenarios in which he has experienced the grace of God.
The first scenario given by the singer is the grace of God demonstrated by the new covenant that God established through His death. This covenant is called grace and whoever believes in Him will not perish. The singer reflects on the undeserved nature of this grace, and acknowledges that he has done nothing to deserve it.
Throughout the song, the singer gives different scenarios in which he has experienced the grace of God, including making it home safely, being able to find employment when feeling void and unemployed, and even in situations where he has done wrong. The recurring theme in all these scenarios is the unmerited, undeserved favor of God.
The song also emphasizes that God's grace is always present, whether in good or bad circumstances, and that it serves as a reminder of the love and tender care of God. The song ends with the affirmation that the grace of God is always there to cover us, hold us, and aid us.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me take some time to testify about God's grace
I want to share my experience of the unmerited favor of God
Oh grace, unmerited grace
God's favor is given to me freely despite my lack of merit
When He died, He left us a new covenant and it's called grace
Through the death of Jesus Christ, God established a new agreement with us based on His grace
Whoso'er believeth in Him shall not perish, unmerited grace
Anyone who has faith in Jesus Christ will not experience eternal death, but instead will receive undeserved favor
If I make it home, turn my keys in the door, that's call grace
Even being able to return safely to my dwelling is an example of God's unmerited favor
If I make it inside and everything's all right, unmerited grace
Experiencing a sense of wholeness and completeness is the manifestation of the unearned grace of God
He sends His grace always
To remind me of His love and tender care
Grace is there
Even when I've done wrong
God's grace is ever-present and serves as a reminder of His affectionate and gentle concern for me, even when I don't deserve it
Unemployed, annoyed and feeling void, He sends His grace
God the source can send the resource and that's unmerited grace
Even in times of unemployment, discontent, and emotional emptiness, God can provide divine assistance which is an exhibition of His undeserved favor
Problems here, problems there, situations falling everywhere, He sends His grace
He fixed my heart that was broken apart oh yes, unmerited grace
In the midst of many troubles and difficult circumstances, God blesses me with His grace and has the power to repair my wounded soul
Grace, is there to cover me
His grace, is there to hold me
His grace, and mercy to aid me
His grace, grace
God's grace is present to protect and embrace me, and His compassion can assist me in times of need
His grace, a way to remind me of His love and tender care
Grace is better even when I've done wrong
The unearned favor of God serves as a means to bring to mind His affectionate and gentle concern for me, and it is even more merciful when I am in the wrong
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Ricky Dillard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind