Marcia Hines

All of Australia knows her simply as Marcia, the diva with the most wonderful and distinctive voice that local pop music has ever heard. Inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2007, Marcia continues to remain one of Australia’s most-loved musical icons.

Marcia Hines first endeared herself to the Australian public back in 1970 when she arrived as a wide eyed 16-year-old to take part in the rock musical Hair.

In her hometown of Boston, Marcia had made her first public appearance in a church choir by the age of nine. After seeing one of her friends, future disco diva Donna Summer, win a role in a German production of the musical Hair, the young singer decided to audition for the Australian production. She won the part and 12 days later was on her way to a country she knew nothing about.

Her daughter Deni arrived five months later. Marcia worked right up to the time of the birth and nine days later was back on stage. Marcia thought she’d be in Australia for six months but her distinctive style assured there was plenty of work waiting once she left the stage of Hair, and she decided to stay, becoming in 1973 the world’s first black Mary Magdalene in the Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar.

When she came to make her recording debut in 1975 with a sizzling version of Fire and Rain, Marcia’s solid gold recording path was set – seven multi-platinum albums and seven Top 10 singles – Ooh Child, Your Love Still Brings Me to My Knees, to name just a few. They made her the biggest-selling artist Australia ever had. In that time Marcia also toured overseas with the Daly Wilson Big Band, had her own national TV show and was crowned Queen of Pop three times.

There seems to be a permanent spotlight on Marcia whether offstage or on. People are drawn to her smile, to her bold personality and her striking appearance, and these days Marcia is looking better than ever.

But Marcia’s commitment to fitness came after receiving a severe reality check in 1986 when she fell over in her kitchen and was rushed to hospital. She was diagnosed with diabetes and sentenced to a life of daily insulin injections and careful monitoring of her diet.

A new record deal with Warner Bros in 1994 saw her return to recording and touring. The album Right Here and Now was released in 1995 featuring two Top 20 singles and went gold, reaching Top 10 status. The renaissance continued and prospered with the 1999 release of her album and the Top 10 single Time of Our Lives.

The success continued into the millennium with the Australian Olympic Team choosing Marcia’s new single Rise as their official team song.

2001 marked Marcia Hines’ 30th anniversary as a professional singer. This milestone was celebrated with two major releases: DIVA the CD, an anthology of Marcia’s greatest songs and DIVA the book which vividly recreates the earliest years of Marcia’s life.

In 2002 Marcia starred in the musical Oh! What A Night and was one of the stars of the multi-artist retrospective Australian national Long Way To The Top tour. In 2004, Marcia released the album Hinesight – Songs From The Journey and in 2006, she released Discothèque, her collection of dance classics which entered the Australian charts at number six and went gold.

In 2007, Marcia Hines was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. She returned for a fifth series of Australian Idol, guest starred in Neighbours and released her new album, Marcia Hines – Life. She also toured nationally as a special guest with Lionel Ritchie.

In 2009, Marcia received an AM in the Australia Day Honours for services to the entertainment industry as a performer, judge and mentor, and to the community through a range of charitable organisations.

She also returned as a judge for the seventh series of Australian Idol, the only judge to be retained for every season of the show, and found time to release her second book, Life – Things To Get You By, published by Hay House.

In 2010, Marcia continued a hectic performance schedule, hosted a 6-part series on Foxtel’s Lifestyle network entitled Sweet Talk, toured nationally with Simply Red and released a new album Marcia Sings Tapestry and the songs of Carole King through Universal Music.

With a powerhouse voice and incredible energy, Marcia Hines remains one of Australia’s most enduring and loved pop artists. Whether it is taking centre stage at an event or a on sell-out concert tours throughout Australia and New Zealand, there is no doubt that Marcia Hines and her band will continue to reward old fans and embrace new ones.