Since the age of three, R… Read Full Bio ↴Artist Description | Ricky Dillard & New G
Since the age of three, Ricky Dillard watched church choirs. His Grandma used to stand Little Ricky on top of his baby potty and he would direct and sing. At five years old, he began directing the junior choir at St. Bethel Baptist Church. In 1981, he formed the first gospel choir at Bloom High School. “There were so many church kids there and they liked to sing,” he says. “So, I started a group called Ricky Dillard and Company and we sang at school. One of my teachers, Don Bondurant, said, ‘you should start a gospel choir’ and I did.” In spite of his love for performing, Dillard thought his future lay in radio announcing. He attended Columbia College for a couple of years, but dropped it because “The curriculum bored me and I was really tired of school anyway.” He took a job as a front desk clerk at a Holiday Inn and later worked as a file clerk while performing in a professional back-up group called Love, Salvation & Devotion (LSD) on the weekends.
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.
(http://www.yourmusiczone.com/go/ymz/music_artist_more/dillard_ricky_new_g/)
Speak A Word
Ricky Dillard & New G Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Speak words of life into my ear
Speak Lord (3 Times)
(Repeat)
Lord, oh Lord, I'm crying out to you
I need to hear your voice tell me what you want me to do
Speak a word that ministers to me
A word that will release
Lord, oh Lord, I'm crying out to you
I need to hear your voice tell me what you want me to do
Speak a word (Repeat 6 Times)
We Need a word from the Lord,
Just one word from the Lord.
Speak the Word (4 Times)
We Need a Word from the Lord,
Just one word from the Lord.
Speak The Word that ministers to me
A word that will release what you have for me
The lyrics of Ricky Dillard & New G's song, "Speak a Word," express a longing for the voice of the Lord to speak life into the singer's ear. The repetition of the phrase "Speak a word" conveys urgency and desperation for guidance and direction. The singer is crying out to the Lord, expressing a need to hear His voice and receive a message that ministers to them and releases the plans and purpose God has for their life.
The phrase "ministers to me" is significant because it suggests that the singer desires a message that not only provides guidance but also provides comfort, encouragement or healing. It acknowledges that the voice of the Lord can provide emotional, spiritual and physical sustenance to the singer. The song underscores the importance of seeking the voice of the Lord and trusting in His guidance and direction.
One interesting fact about the song "Speak a Word" is that it was written by Ricky Dillard, a Grammy-nominated gospel singer, and choir director known for his signature energetic performances. The song is featured on New G's album, "10," which debuted at number one on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a voice I long to hear
The singer desires to hear a specific voice.
Speak words of life into my ear
The singer wants to hear life-affirming words.
Speak Lord (3 Times)
The singer requests that the Lord speaks.
Lord, oh Lord, I'm crying out to you
The artist is pleading to the Lord.
I need to hear your voice tell me what you want me to do
The artist needs guidance from the Lord.
Speak a word that ministers to me
The singer asks the Lord for a word that will uplift and encourage them.
A word that will release
The word from the Lord will set the singer free.
What you have for me.
The Lord has something for the artist, and they want to know what it is.
Speak a word (Repeat 6 Times)
The artist continues to request a word from the Lord.
We Need a word from the Lord,
The entire group needs a word from the Lord.
Just one word from the Lord.
Even a single word from the Lord would be sufficient.
Speak The Word (4 Times)
The entire group is repeating their request for the Lord to speak.
Speak The Word that ministers to me
Again, the singer requests a word from the Lord that will bring comfort and encouragement.
A word that will release what you have for me
The word from the Lord will unlock blessings and opportunities for the singer.
Writer(s): Rick Robinson
Contributed by Ryan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jermia Cannon
God bless you and thank you all for your love and support! Keep me lifted in prayer as I continue to do the master's will!
Allison Cross
Medicare accreditation services of comprehensive health safeties and insurance services oration realities
Live life!
love it! 11 years later!!
Tonya Slater
I love this lady. It doesn't matter what she sings it ministers to your heart and mind.
Miss V
i cant stop listening to this song its so powerful
Gregory Brown
Absolutely!!!
UKLeonie
2019 and still in my soul this song captures my senses. Speaking into my life.
Gregory Brown
Yes!
E. Harlan Harrison
Oh MY Lord! Jermia Cannon, you better do it! God spoke to me and He used you in doing so. I have always learned to hear HIS voice and I thank you for blessing me with your magnificent testimony. God bless you and please keep on inspiring us, keep on singing His praises so beautifully.
msindymusic
"When you speak a word it brings peace to a messed up mind..." That line hits hard when you've been through something!