The Penny Diaries
It’s not quite sure exactly when the group first performed as “New Life”, but we do have some clues due to a 5-year appointment diary kept by Penny. It is a rich trove of dates that many in the group had forgotten.
The Eras of the New Life – 7th Avenue
It was in 1975 that “New Life” first performed as a group. Over the next 8 years however, the group changed with the times and the audience they were trying to reach. Here is a summary:
Mid 1975 – Mid 1976: 9 members, guys & gals, 3 guitars, occasional bongos, tambourine & percussion, mostly acoustic, added sound amplification early 1976.
Mid 1976 – Mid 1977: Added electric & bass guitar, drums & keyboards for a more contemporary style. First major tour to Natal.
Mid 1977 – 1978: The group is still called “New Life“, but changes to all guys, more rock, less choral. July 1977 tour to PE the first for New Life as as all guys.
1979 – 1983: Name changed to “7th Avenue” to reflect the new sound aimed at a younger audience. LP released early 79. Lindsay joins mid 79. The sound is a mix of ballads and contemporary christian rock with multimedia elements, inspired after a 10 day July 1978 tour to Bulawayo. Final major concert is YouthWeek 83 culminating in a Live recording on the YFC LP “Holding it Together. (See “songs”).
1983+ The group starts to dissipate as members jobs take them to different part of the country, and start having families. They only get together for special occasions, with various collaborations of members. Final event is a 1992 Reunion concert at Hatfield, and Rosebank Union Church.
2020: Covid Virus leads to the group members reaching out to each others again in rich fellowship with regular Zoom calls, not to sing, but to recall the tremendous blessing they had been privileged to experience together, and to give thanks to God.
0 Comments