The seasoned Chorale Director feels that God provided him with a conduit to convey that message and bring to light a particular vision. That vision was to produce a choir that would poignantly deliver the message of hope, grace, love, and salvation with a global effect. “I had a dream. I put this choir together, this young choir together. I’m a choirmaster, a young one, and I’m hungry to have the best one in the world.”
“I had a dream. I put this choir together, this young choir together. I’m a choirmaster, a young one, and I’m hungry to have the best one in the world.”
That is when, 29 years ago, New Generation Chorale, which he affectionately calls “New G”, was born. He shared from his heart, what New G really means to him. With a mirthful gaze, he describes New G as the ministry he birthed “It is my ministry. It is my baby.” He then expressed the truth within the dream.
“It was not really to be famous. I just wanted the best choir that would go out here and sing until the power of God came down. When people heard them sing, their lives would be changed and transformed because they called upon the Lord and got an answer. God would come. He would come and meet the people. He would fall on the people. They would leave the place revived, renewed, replenished with a better place of faith and trust in Him. And, they would believe in Him. And, when you believe Him, anything is possible.”
When he observed how people’s lives were impacted by his choir, he continued to develop that choir until he attained the perpetual fruits of his vision. “And I just kept going and I kept going. I built this amazing choir. The more we sing, the more I wanted to do. The more we saw souls saved, the more I wanted to sing.”
The choir conductor’s purpose for gospel music, to him, stemmed from his own personal relationship with Christ. He described an intricate correlation between that relationship and his music, which can be considered one shaped from careful and determined crafting, honing, and consistency. He spoke of how he was led, in his gospel music career, by his connection to his personal relationship with Jesus Christ. With fervency, he illuminated how Jesus walks with him in and through every area of his life.
“That hope that was given, that joy that was given, the millions of blessings and favor. Whatever I needed, He provided. Whatever I wanted, He said yes to it many times; and that made me know that I was serving the right person and that I was on the right track.
With His Spirit inside of me, He recognized that, and He gave me grace. He gave me Favor. He opened doors that were closed in my face. When people said no, He found a way to say yes. I allowed myself to work really hard, but with that faith and that trust in Him, I saw Him work. I saw Him move.
Many things I requested, He granted, and that made me stay. I was locked in. I’m locked in. I’m sold out. I’m like He’s stuck with me and I am not going anywhere. He showed me glory, even in my lowest places. Sometimes I didn’t really feel like getting up and doing it. There were a lot of hurts in the walking. He washed those hurts away by just doing so many amazing things. This led me to know that if he did it once, when I get in trouble again, or when I get in that spot again, He will do it again.”
“It was not really to be famous. I just wanted the best choir that would go out here and sing until the power of God came down. When people heard them sing, their lives would be changed and transformed because they called upon the Lord and got an answer. God would come. He would come and meet the people. He would fall on the people. They would leave the place revived, renewed, replenished with a better place of faith and trust in Him. And, they would believe in Him. And, when you believe Him, anything is possible.”
When he observed how people’s lives were impacted by his choir, he continued to develop that choir until he attained the perpetual fruits of his vision. “And I just kept going and I kept going. I built this amazing choir. The more we sing, the more I wanted to do. The more we saw souls saved, the more I wanted to sing.”
The choir conductor’s purpose for gospel music, to him, stemmed from his own personal relationship with Christ. He described an intricate correlation between that relationship and his music, which can be considered one shaped from careful and determined crafting, honing, and consistency. He spoke of how he was led, in his gospel music career, by his connection to his personal relationship with Jesus Christ. With fervency, he illuminated how Jesus walks with him in and through every area of his life.
“That hope that was given, that joy that was given, the millions of blessings and favor. Whatever I needed, He provided. Whatever I wanted, He said yes to it many times; and that made me know that I was serving the right person and that I was on the right track.
With His Spirit inside of me, He recognized that, and He gave me grace. He gave me Favor. He opened doors that were closed in my face. When people said no, He found a way to say yes. I allowed myself to work really hard, but with that faith and that trust in Him, I saw Him work. I saw Him move.
Many things I requested, He granted, and that made me stay. I was locked in. I’m locked in. I’m sold out. I’m like He’s stuck with me and I am not going anywhere. He showed me glory, even in my lowest places. Sometimes I didn’t really feel like getting up and doing it. There were a lot of hurts in the walking. He washed those hurts away by just doing so many amazing things. This led me to know that if he did it once, when I get in trouble again, or when I get in that spot again, He will do it again.”
"I was locked in. I’m locked in. I’m sold out. I’m like He’s stuck with me and I am not going anywhere."
Ricky Dillard and New G became a household name, leaving their own indelible imprint on gospel music, spreading his message with their own brand of funk-laden gospel. When you hear his name and that of his choir, behind it, you hear a raucous, clap-filled stamp of approval, but this was not always the case. Their style and approach to "traditional" gospel, he recalls, were not always accepted with outstretched arms.
“We were very radical on our entrance to the industry. People kind of shunned it, said it’s too much, he’s doing too much. I’m very charismatic. I’m very animated. I dance a lot. I praise God the way I do, and people weren’t really receiving that. They were looking at me--- like, this ain’t real. He’s phony. He’s playing, or that’s too much…a little different from the conventional.”
“We were very radical on our entrance to the industry. People kind of shunned it, said it’s too much, he’s doing too much. I’m very charismatic. I’m very animated. I dance a lot. I praise God the way I do, and people weren’t really receiving that. They were looking at me--- like, this ain’t real. He’s phony. He’s playing, or that’s too much…a little different from the conventional.”
That push back, he said, caused him to hesitate, initially, when it came to networking and reaching out to others he met in the gospel industry. The criticism caused him to withdraw a bit, into his own space. He feels his reticence cost him the opportunity to build influential associations along the way.
“Possibly, I did not do enough networking when the platform was open. I had received so much ridicule of my style. I kind of stayed back from people. I waited on them to welcome me in their space instead of me going into their space to make myself known. I missed a long of networking with people in power… that was something I learned from my team. I needed to learn how to reach out and rub a little bit more elbows, kind of make people aware of my presence, and that I’m around. I missed that, I really missed a lot of that.” |
But he did not give up, pause, or let go of that dream that was conceived almost three decades ago, birthed, nurtured through growing pains and now sees all grown up. Because of his experiences, he was able to state with confidence, “I stayed the course, and in staying the course, if you see it enough, you’ll eventually like it---eventually.”
Going through his journey, the Minister of Music discovered that an icy (turned fiery) reception would not be his only “valley low, mountain high” experience (a reverse cycle at times) with weightier circumstances. He yet shares how God saw him through those difficult times, and observed his personal Faith and walk with God grow more and more.
Those circumstances included a seemingly financial paradox as he moved forward in gospel music, and a personal tragedy that paralleled the conflict that arose from his profession. Even when things were different from what he expected and when he was faced with daunting challenges, he describes how God’s love, and his faith in God, saw him through those times.
“When I finally got a record deal, I found myself paying dues longer than I would suspect a secular artist or others who do music and they just have more. If you do well, you are well-rewarded. And, we pretty much had to go and do gigs to be paid. In those situations, you don’t make residuals. You don’t make royalties, unless you were a writer. And, I didn’t start off being a writer. I had writers. They made money. Although I put the record together, I really made nothing. Yep, it’s a funny place.” He grappled with reconciling his awareness of God as his Source and Provider with this conundrum unfolding before him. “He’s a God that is able to do many things if we believe Him. And, I wanted to serve Him and also be paid.”
Then a turning point came, and he saw how God changed the tide. He began to see an upsurge in returns that corresponded with his efforts.
“Eventually I started to see revenue come in. Because this is a full-time job for me, I did not have another job. I did not work in an office or anything. I did before I started the group, but after my first record, I’m self-employed. I don’t work for anyone but for the Lord. The gigs saw me through. And I continued to do that and then the Lord opened other doors from writing. I started writing. I did some movies. I was doing some TV. Those things sustained me.”
Going through his journey, the Minister of Music discovered that an icy (turned fiery) reception would not be his only “valley low, mountain high” experience (a reverse cycle at times) with weightier circumstances. He yet shares how God saw him through those difficult times, and observed his personal Faith and walk with God grow more and more.
Those circumstances included a seemingly financial paradox as he moved forward in gospel music, and a personal tragedy that paralleled the conflict that arose from his profession. Even when things were different from what he expected and when he was faced with daunting challenges, he describes how God’s love, and his faith in God, saw him through those times.
“When I finally got a record deal, I found myself paying dues longer than I would suspect a secular artist or others who do music and they just have more. If you do well, you are well-rewarded. And, we pretty much had to go and do gigs to be paid. In those situations, you don’t make residuals. You don’t make royalties, unless you were a writer. And, I didn’t start off being a writer. I had writers. They made money. Although I put the record together, I really made nothing. Yep, it’s a funny place.” He grappled with reconciling his awareness of God as his Source and Provider with this conundrum unfolding before him. “He’s a God that is able to do many things if we believe Him. And, I wanted to serve Him and also be paid.”
Then a turning point came, and he saw how God changed the tide. He began to see an upsurge in returns that corresponded with his efforts.
“Eventually I started to see revenue come in. Because this is a full-time job for me, I did not have another job. I did not work in an office or anything. I did before I started the group, but after my first record, I’m self-employed. I don’t work for anyone but for the Lord. The gigs saw me through. And I continued to do that and then the Lord opened other doors from writing. I started writing. I did some movies. I was doing some TV. Those things sustained me.”
God again picked up the pieces for Dr. Dillard when tragedy struck. He recalled in poignant detail his memory of one fateful night. He was at the apex of a new stage in his career, having concluded his seventh album, coming to “the end of a cycle, at the door of a graduation” as he describes it. He had this feeling that God was elevating him from one level to another. He had just completed a recording in Toronto, after, traveling to Chicago, and then to New York, when he learned, while miles away from his home in Atlanta, that his house was encased in fire. “I got a call from one of my neighbors, saying, ‘Your house is on fire.Your house is burning and burning to the ground.' When I got back to Atlanta, where I lived at the time, my house and everything in it was gone, I lost everything...Everything, I lost.”
|
“I got a call from one of my neighbors, saying that: ‘Your house is on fire. Your house is burning and burning to the ground.'"
As he recalled this painful memory, he remembered that a certain piece of memorabilia was preserved amid the smoke and ruin. “It was a case of records that was preserved, because it was sitting in the corner, of the base of the house, which was in the cement basement.”
The rest of his home and belongings suffered a very different fate. “The top of the house burned and everything in it. All you saw was this big hole. All of my possessions---a lot of stuff was lost.”
Awards that marked his career, all of his clothes, and much of his belongings were gone. “But I kept on going, and I kept on singing, and I kept on praising.”
He was thankful he was not there while his home was destroyed. Despite what may have caused it, Minister Dillard was grateful that his life was intact. He praises God for restoring his possessions lost in the fire, and that more abundantly.
“The City of Atlanta came together and raised me at least 30, 000 dollars. Chicago raised me 15-20,000 dollars. Many other supporters, from around the world, just wanted to do fundraisers, to get me back on my feet. It was a blessing. Moving through time, and continue to serve the Lord, He continued to replenish and replace everything that I had lost. Here I am standing. Here a survivor of what the enemy meant for evil. They still don’t know why my house burned down. I heard that there was a major storm and lightning hit my house...they were supposing. It didn’t matter, because as long as I had my life, and I wasn’t in the house, I can get more. I can go back and continue to serve God and work and work and work until I replaced everything that I lost. But as of today, I have replaced everything that I’ve lost and gotten more.”
In spite of these setbacks, Dr. Dillard holds to the idea that his life gained traction, and only continued to get better. That betterment included the personal effect of his gospel music on himself and those around him. He surmised, that over the years, what he has accomplished with New G, and in bringing them together to minister through music, symbiotically influenced and personally affected all of their lives in a powerful way.
The rest of his home and belongings suffered a very different fate. “The top of the house burned and everything in it. All you saw was this big hole. All of my possessions---a lot of stuff was lost.”
Awards that marked his career, all of his clothes, and much of his belongings were gone. “But I kept on going, and I kept on singing, and I kept on praising.”
He was thankful he was not there while his home was destroyed. Despite what may have caused it, Minister Dillard was grateful that his life was intact. He praises God for restoring his possessions lost in the fire, and that more abundantly.
“The City of Atlanta came together and raised me at least 30, 000 dollars. Chicago raised me 15-20,000 dollars. Many other supporters, from around the world, just wanted to do fundraisers, to get me back on my feet. It was a blessing. Moving through time, and continue to serve the Lord, He continued to replenish and replace everything that I had lost. Here I am standing. Here a survivor of what the enemy meant for evil. They still don’t know why my house burned down. I heard that there was a major storm and lightning hit my house...they were supposing. It didn’t matter, because as long as I had my life, and I wasn’t in the house, I can get more. I can go back and continue to serve God and work and work and work until I replaced everything that I lost. But as of today, I have replaced everything that I’ve lost and gotten more.”
In spite of these setbacks, Dr. Dillard holds to the idea that his life gained traction, and only continued to get better. That betterment included the personal effect of his gospel music on himself and those around him. He surmised, that over the years, what he has accomplished with New G, and in bringing them together to minister through music, symbiotically influenced and personally affected all of their lives in a powerful way.
“It’s been a really great affect as you can tell right now, I’m experiencing its affect. I love the fact that I was able to take on some singers, and their lives be changed because of their participation or connection to the assignment that God has given me. Many of them just came from local assemblies, there were really no names. They just had a desire to be connected to the vision that God gave me. Due to that, they were able to be seen with me, and seen out on this run with me. Their pastors ended up promoting them---to be ministers of music, praise and worship leaders, leaders in their churches, and giving them responsibilities that made them feel important to the ministries that they served. It was one of the greatest joys, to see their lives changed, and that they were able to meet all of their favorite gospel artists of the times, do TV, and be seen and be celebrated by their peers as well. All this just because they were connected to the assignment that God gave me.”
|
"I love the fact that I was able to take on some singers, and their lives be changed because of their participation or connection to the assignment that God has given me."
Through all of his accomplishments during his gospel music career, He sees Jesus as the One at the forefront of it all.
“Jesus has been my Everything. My relationship with Him has grown through the years. I have seen His presence in my life, and with that manifestation of the glory of God, and that manifestation of His presence, and that He is here, has caused me to grow closer to Him.
He’s been a Shield. He’s been a Provider. He’s been a Protector. He’s been a King. He’s been a Guide. So many things I can say about Jesus. Indeed, I love Him. He’s in my heart…and that caused me to go out and tell everybody about Him…tell everybody about the greatness of this man that has changed my life forever. He changed me. He changed my heart. I could have been a bitter dude against life and things that I didn’t have. I’m a black man in America. Actually, I’m supposed to be in jail.” Through all of these things, he agrees---But God.
“Jesus has been my Everything. My relationship with Him has grown through the years. I have seen His presence in my life, and with that manifestation of the glory of God, and that manifestation of His presence, and that He is here, has caused me to grow closer to Him.
He’s been a Shield. He’s been a Provider. He’s been a Protector. He’s been a King. He’s been a Guide. So many things I can say about Jesus. Indeed, I love Him. He’s in my heart…and that caused me to go out and tell everybody about Him…tell everybody about the greatness of this man that has changed my life forever. He changed me. He changed my heart. I could have been a bitter dude against life and things that I didn’t have. I’m a black man in America. Actually, I’m supposed to be in jail.” Through all of these things, he agrees---But God.
“Jesus has been my Everything. He’s been a Shield. He’s been a Provider. He’s been a Protector. He’s been a King. He’s been a Guide. So many things I can say about Jesus. Indeed I love Him. He’s in my heart."
The following day, the forceful Choir Master held a release concert for his album “10” at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois. A royal red crown was rolled out and held court in front of the stage . He and the fifty plus member chorale filled the stage decked out in fashionable black and red tie-dyed apparel.
The warmth and vigor present in his eyes the night before exploded on stage. Before he began thrilling us |
with his song, energy, and direction, he gave a word of encouragement, speaking out against police brutality and other injustices African Americans grapple with today. He and New G then sang with the force of a thousand tongues, songs like “I Survived It” (this song really reflecting what God brought him through) and “Any Day Now”, with staccato and slow rhythmic cadences.
They wowed us with the universal favorite from his previous album, “Amazing”, featuring female vocalist Tiffany McGhee, while images of the young faces of Tamir Rice and Michael Ferguson, and civil rights icons such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Medgar Evers steadily streamed on jumbo screens in the background.
He made sure the fire stayed with us long after the concert goers dispersed, with the bring-the-church house-down exhortation, “I’ve Got the Victory”. Right after their phenomenal performance, Dr. Dillard shared the honor given, with his choir. Individually, he praised each director, and then musicians, along with members of his management team who worked with him, for their years of dedication. To say the least, after his concert, his journey did not end here. He tells the packed church that he is flying to another part of the country early the next morning to continue ministering.
So we see, from his days with Milton Brunson as a Thompson Community Singer in the 1980’s, to his current project “10” (album number 10 with New G), Dr. Ricky Dillard is still going strong. He has perpetuated throughout his illustrious musical career, that message of Jesus Christ as Deliverer and Savior in national and international settings. He continues striving to convey his purpose of bringing the message of the hope, grace, and love of Jesus Christ to the world, through vocal harmony. He already has impacted lives through that music, with an eye toward touching and impacting many more. From the looks of it, he will not be winding down anytime soon.
They wowed us with the universal favorite from his previous album, “Amazing”, featuring female vocalist Tiffany McGhee, while images of the young faces of Tamir Rice and Michael Ferguson, and civil rights icons such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Medgar Evers steadily streamed on jumbo screens in the background.
He made sure the fire stayed with us long after the concert goers dispersed, with the bring-the-church house-down exhortation, “I’ve Got the Victory”. Right after their phenomenal performance, Dr. Dillard shared the honor given, with his choir. Individually, he praised each director, and then musicians, along with members of his management team who worked with him, for their years of dedication. To say the least, after his concert, his journey did not end here. He tells the packed church that he is flying to another part of the country early the next morning to continue ministering.
So we see, from his days with Milton Brunson as a Thompson Community Singer in the 1980’s, to his current project “10” (album number 10 with New G), Dr. Ricky Dillard is still going strong. He has perpetuated throughout his illustrious musical career, that message of Jesus Christ as Deliverer and Savior in national and international settings. He continues striving to convey his purpose of bringing the message of the hope, grace, and love of Jesus Christ to the world, through vocal harmony. He already has impacted lives through that music, with an eye toward touching and impacting many more. From the looks of it, he will not be winding down anytime soon.
- “10” Defined: “ABOUT”. Ricky Dillard & NEW G, www.rickydillard.com/bio
- “Ricky Dillard Artist Profile | Biography and Discography | NewRelease Today.” Christian Music, New Christian Music – New Release Today, http://www.newreleasetoday.com/artistdetail.php?artist_id=941
- Walker, Albertina. “He Keeps on Blessing Me.” Barnes & Noble, https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/he-keeps-on-blessing-me-albertina-walker/206044
Music Information & Discography
Album / Year: The Promise / 1991; A Holy Ghost Takeover / 1993; Hallelujah / 1995; Worked It Out / 1996; No Limit / 2000; Unplugged: The Way Church Used To Be / 2004; 7th Episode Live In Toronto / 2008 (II: 7th Episode: Live In Toronto Limited Deluxe Edition / 2008); Keep Living / 2011; Amazing / 2014; 10 / 2017
Album / Year: The Promise / 1991; A Holy Ghost Takeover / 1993; Hallelujah / 1995; Worked It Out / 1996; No Limit / 2000; Unplugged: The Way Church Used To Be / 2004; 7th Episode Live In Toronto / 2008 (II: 7th Episode: Live In Toronto Limited Deluxe Edition / 2008); Keep Living / 2011; Amazing / 2014; 10 / 2017
Links:
Https://www.Youtu.Be/FqxRN8DTixQ
Https://Soundcloud.Com/Lightrecords
www.rickydillard.com
Wakeelah’s Picks:
Song: Any Day Now (Album: “10”, Year: 2017)
Song: Amazing (Album: “Amazing”, Year: 2014)
Song: More Abundantly (Album: The Promise: 1991)
Https://www.Youtu.Be/FqxRN8DTixQ
Https://Soundcloud.Com/Lightrecords
www.rickydillard.com
Wakeelah’s Picks:
Song: Any Day Now (Album: “10”, Year: 2017)
Song: Amazing (Album: “Amazing”, Year: 2014)
Song: More Abundantly (Album: The Promise: 1991)
Trivia, Not Trivial:
+For what Gospel Artist did Ricky Dillard do background vocals, whose album won a Stellar Award?
+For what Gospel Artist did Ricky Dillard do background vocals, whose album won a Stellar Award?
Wakeelah Cocroft-Aldridge is a Freelance Writer residing in Chicago, IL with her husband. Her writing includes academic writing and creative writing such as fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Wakeelah likes to laugh and cry about the sweet somethings of life, and find out about the unique stories of others. She loves comedy, animation, extended metaphors, quiet times, and she is an avid listener of gospel music. Oh … and she likes Peppermint Stick ice cream!
Wakeelah has joined us as a Columnist, forming Purposeful Gospel Profiles, a periodic column. She hopes, as she interviews each Gospel Artist, to portray their purpose for singing gospel music and what it means to those who provide a musical narrative for the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Wakeelah has joined us as a Columnist, forming Purposeful Gospel Profiles, a periodic column. She hopes, as she interviews each Gospel Artist, to portray their purpose for singing gospel music and what it means to those who provide a musical narrative for the Good News of Jesus Christ.
+Ricky Dillard worked on the Stellar Award-winning album He Keeps on Blessing Me for the “Queen of Gospel”, Albertina Walker, having performed the background vocals, worked on the arrangement, and was a Guest Artist, track performer, as well as Choir Director for the album.
I Believe That Appreciation Is A Holy Thing – That When We Look For What's Best In A Person We Happen To Be With At The Moment, We're Doing What God Does All The Time. So In Loving And Appreciating Our Neighbor, We're Participating In Something Sacred. ~ Fred Rogers
Disclaimer: All claims or statements in Purposeful Gospel Profiles column were deemed truthful to the best knowledge of the Columnist at the time of publication. All views or opinions by persons featured in the column do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Columnist or Voice of One CNC Online Magazine. The Columnist reserves the right to make any changes to the column at any time.