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 Gospelβ 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 βNo Limitβ CD. The single βThe Holy Place,β 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, βUnpluggedβ¦The Way Church Used To Beβ, an album that revisited traditional church choir anthems and incorporated the βRicky Dillard Soundβ.
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: βLive in Torontoβ. This historical project will definitely delight the ears of many as it truly defines a new level of ministry for Ricky & his aggregation.
NO WAY
Ricky Dillard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There is no way, I can live without you
Burdens are too much, for me to bear
There is no way, I can live without you
I have tried to make it on my own
But these heavy burdens, these old heavy burdens
They got a little bit too strong
can say, that without Christ in my life
There is no other way, there is no other way
There is no way, I can live without you
There is no way, I can live without you
Burdens are too much, for me to bear
There is no way, I can live without you
I have tried over and over
But there is no other way, is no other way, is no other way
There is no way, I can live without you.
I have tried over and over
But there is no other way, is no other way
Is! No! other! way!
There is no way I can live without you
I have tried to take it, I couldn't take it, I had to face it
But there is no other way, is other way
is! no! other! way!
There is no way I can live without you.
The lyrics of the song "There Is No Way" by Ricky Dillard and New G's express the deep dependency on God and the realization that living without Him is not possible. The repeated phrase "There is no way I can live without you" emphasizes the importance of God's presence and guidance in life. The burden of life becomes too much to bear alone, and the singer acknowledges that turning to God is the only solution.
The verse "I have tried to make it on my own, but these heavy burdens got a little bit too strong" speaks to the futility of trying to face life alone. The line "without Christ in my life, there is no other way" emphasizes the importance of having a personal relationship with God. The repetition of "There is no other way" affirms this message by emphasizing the importance of God in the singer's life.
Line by Line Meaning
There is no way, I can live without you
It is impossible for me to live without Christ in my life.
Burdens are too much, for me to bear
The difficulties I face on a daily basis are too heavy for me to handle alone.
I have tried to make it on my own
I have attempted to manage my struggles independently.
But these heavy burdens, these old heavy burdens
These struggles that I have carried for a long time are becoming too difficult to bear alone.
They got a little bit too strong
The weight of my challenges has increased to the point where I cannot cope without Christ.
But right now, I can say, that without Christ in my life
Although I tried to deal with my problems myself, I now understand that I cannot live without Christ.
There is no other way, there is no other way
There are no other options available to me.
I have tried over and over
I kept attempting to do things on my own.
Is! No! other! way!
There is absolutely no other alternative.
I have tried to take it, I couldn't take it, I had to face it
I attempted to handle my problems, but I was not strong enough to deal with them without Christ.
Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: PERCY BADY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BiggKish
2024, and I donβt know about anyone else but THERE IS NO WAY I CAN LIVE WITHOUT YOUβ¦THANK YOU JESUSππΎππΎππΎππΎππΎππΎππΎ
@shivetteg4308
In 2023, we still cannot live without Jesus. β€οΈπ€²πΎπ€²πΎ
@kahleaqualls5342
Amen!
@raineb2983
Right! Bless His Holy name!! ππ½ππ½β€
@marciasimms6889
Amen to that!!πππ
@sylviajenkins4784
That partβ€β€β€β€
@nadineleo8533
Jesus Christ.
@tracycabarrus2135
NO NO IN 2023 & 2024 & FOREVER WE CAN'T MAKE IT WITHOUT THE FATHER, THE SON & THE HOLYGHOST. . . THANK YOU LORD.... HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH.......
@lahotboy
God I miss this type of choral arranging in churches of today. Everyone want to have a "praise team" but this sound is totally amazing. Lady Nikki Ross who is on lead, is not only an amazing vocalist, but she is a beast on keys, as well!
@ronaldwilson1431
C Armani: people want a praise team is correct. That "praise and worship music" doesn't hit the soul and , I hope I live long enough to see it gone from the church. As a long time church musician, I find it to be effortless and insulting, especially to the black church.