About Marcia – Marcia Hines

MARCIA HINES

Her Story

Australia’s beloved musical treasure Marcia Hines, with a career spanning five decades, has released 22 albums, selling 2.6 million copies, and has garnered countless chart-topping singles and multi-platinum records globally.

Marcia is an inspiration to women and Australians everywhere, constantly reinventing herself and setting industry benchmarks; moving from Boston Massachusetts to Sydney at just 16 to star in the Australian production of Hair, being the first black woman to star in Jesus Christ Superstar and advocating ceaselessly for diabetes.

Marcia was Australian Idol’s favourite judge for the show’s seven consecutive years, and was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2007. She received the Order of Australia (AM) in 2009 for her services to the Australian Entertainment Industry as a performer, judge and mentor, and to the community through a range of charitable organisations.

In January 2019 a new Spiegeltent production, set in the streets of Paris and titled Pigalle was the sell-out hit of the Sydney Festival. 2019 also saw Marcia starring in Saturday Night Fever at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre, and in early 2020 she became ‘The Dragon’ in the long-awaited Australian premiere of Shrek The Musical. This was followed by a starring role in the Adelaide Fringe Festival season of Velvet Rewired that again had the public and critics alike referring to it as the “Best show at the Fringe”.

However the global pandemic arrived and curtailed live performances in Australia, and apart from a short season of Shrek The Musical in Brisbane in January 2020, Marcia has returned to the recording studio and added three new songs to the upcoming greatest hits package called ‘Still Shining – The 50th Anniversary Collection’, followed by ‘The Gospel According to Marcia’ – an album of gospel songs that Marcia grew up singing in the churches of Boston.

The impact of Covid-19 on the life and times of the performing arts industry has become a concern to Marcia and she is now a spokesperson for #vaxthenation, the Australia live events industry’s campaign for recognition of the impact Covid-19 has had on this industry and the need for Australians to get vaccinated as quickly as possible and allow the business of performance to return to the stage.

The amazing Miss Hines and her never ending career inventions are a wonder to behold and have kept her at the pinnacle of Australian entertainment.

FUN FACTS

Did You Know?

1. Marcia arrived in Australia in 1970 to join the cast of the rock musical ‘Hair’, at the ‘Metro Theatre’ in Sydney’s Kings Cross. This theatre later became home to director, George ‘Mad Max’ Miller’s film production company.

2. Marcia was appointed to the order of Australia in January 2009.

3. In 1989, Marcia was invited to perform David Fanshawe’s ‘African Sanctus’ with the Sydney Philharmonia Choir. The concerts were held at the Sydney Opera House and Marcia performed an African tribal version of The Lord’s Prayer that was later released on Warner Brother Records.

4. The other original judges of Australian Idol were Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson and Mark Holden. Dicko was replaced by Kyle Sandilands after five years and Kyle was eventually replaced by Sony A&R Manager Jay Dee Springbett. Marcia was the only original judge to survive the seven-year season.

5. Over her now 45-year career, Marcia has had six record producers. Robie Porter, David Mackay, John Foreman, Paul Wilshire, John O’Donnell and Tom Diesel.

6. ‘Amazing’ was the first album Marcia recorded that she was both co-producer and co-writer on every track.

7. ‘Rise’ was the official theme song of the Australian Olympic rowing team at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

8. Marcia’s co-stars in the Australian season of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ included Jon English, Trevor White, Reg Livermore, Chrissy Amphlett, John Paul Young, Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock (Air Supply), Rory O’Donoghue and Stevie Wright.

9. ‘Your Love Still Brings Me To My Knees’ was a top five hit in Europe in 1981. Particularly Holland, Germany, Italy and France. Marcia has toured all of these territories.

10. When Marcia auditioned in Boston for a role in the Australian production of ‘Hair’, she was joined by her cousin who successfully won a role in the German version of ‘Hair’ in the same week. That cousin was Donna Summer.