MARCIA HINES

Born Marcia Elaine Hines in Boston, Massachusetts, U. S. to Jamaican parents, Eugene and Esmeralda Hines. Eugene died when Hines was six months old due to an operation to remove shrapnel from a war wound. Former US Secretary of State Colin Powell is her cousin, as is the performer Grace Jones. She was raised with her older brother Dwight, by their mother and began singing as a nine-year-old in her church choir. By her teens she was performing with groups in her local area and briefly used the stage-name Shantee Renee. At 14, Hines won a scholarship to the New England Conservatory of Music but left after three months. A month after turning 16, Hines attended the Woodstock Festival.

At the age of 16, Hines was "discovered" by Australian entrepreneur Harry M. Miller and director Jim Sharman who were visiting the U.S. to audition African-American singers in preparation for the new season of the Australian stage production of Hair, which had already premiered in Sydney on 6 June 1969. Because she was underage, Miller was made her legal guardian. When she made her debut in April 1970 Hines became the youngest person in the world to play a featured role in any production of Hair. It was produced by Miller and directed by Sharman. Fellow performers included Keith Glass, Sharon Redd, Reg Livermore, John Waters and Victor Willis. During the show's run Hines learned she was pregnant; her daughter, Deni Hines, was born in September 1970 and nine days later Hines returned to the stage to continue her role. The show was a major success. Hines was well received and an Australian tour followed. Miller and Sharman approached her to play Mary Magdalene in the Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar and Hines assumed the role from Michele Fawdon in the summer of 1973 with Hines' tenure in the role until February 1974 making her a major star in Australia. Other cast members included Trevor White, Jon English, Doug Parkinson, Stevie Wright and John Paul Young.

When Jesus Christ Superstar finished in February 1974, Hines joined the jazz orchestra Daly-Wilson Big Band, releasing the album 'Daly-Wilson Big Band featuring Marcia Hines' in 1975. Hines' vocals were on the cover songs "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?". Hines toured with Daly-Wilson Big Band from Australia to United States, supporting B. B. King and Wilson Pickett in Los Angeles, then to Europe and into Soviet Union for a month. During late 1974 Hines also performed as the backing vocalist on Jim Keays' solo concept album 'The Boy from the Stars'.

A record contract with Robie Porter's Wizard Records in July 1974 led to Hines' first solo single, a cover version of James Taylor's "Fire and Rain", that peaked at #17 on the Australian singles charts in May 1975. Five Top Ten singles were released between 1976 and 1979, including her cover versions of Artie Wayne's "From the Inside", Burt Bacharach/Hal David's "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself", "What I Did for Love" (from A Chorus Line) and "Something's Missing (In My Life)".

Hines' biggest hit was with Tom Snow's "You", which reached #2 in the singles charts in Australia in October 1977. It was an up-tempo dance song, later covered in the U.S. by Rita Coolidge. The song, however, nearly didn't make it to Marcia. Robie Porter had put the song into his "don't use" pile. Mark Kennedy, her backing band's drummer (ex-Spectrum, Doug Parkinson in Focus, Ayers Rock), saw the sheet music in the studio and began arguing the songs' worth to Porter. Porter subsequently changed his mind about the song.

Top Ten Australian album chart success also occurred in the 1970s with 'Marcia Shines' peaking at #4 in January 1976, 'Shining' #3 November 1976, 'Ladies and Gentlemen' #6 August 1977 and 'Marcia Hines Live Across Australia' #7 in March 1978. Her albums have sold close to a million copies and Hines was the first Australian female performer to attain a Platinum record.

Hines was voted "Queen of Pop", the country's most popular female performer, each year from 1976 to 1978, by the readers of TV Week. Hines was Australia's best-selling local act for 1977 and 1978, and she was the top concert attraction for 1976–1979 inclusive. Her success had been boosted by appearances on Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC) popular TV music show Countdown. Her touring band, the Marcia Hines Band, included Kennedy, bass guitarist Jackie Orszaczky, lead guitarist Stephen Housden (later of Little River Band) and drummer/percussionist Peter Whitford. Hines was married to Kennedy during the late-1970s; he designed and made an elaborate and colourful stage costume for her. In 1978 and 1979, Hines also had her own TV series, Marcia Hines Music on the ABC.

By November 1979, Hines had fallen out with Wizard Records' owner Robie Porter, and moved on to the Midnight label under Warner Music Australia, after waiting out her contract she returned to recording to achieve a few more hits including the dance track version of Dusty Springfield's "Your Love Still Brings Me to My Knees", which reached Top Ten in 1981. A compilation 'Greatest Hits', released by Porter's Wizard Records, peaked at #2 in January 1982.

Hines combined with fellow Jesus Christ Superstar artist, Jon English to release a duet single "Jokers & Queens" and an associated six track mini album 'Jokers and Queens' in July 1982. The album reached #36 and the single peaked at #62 on their respective charts. Her next album 'Love Sides' and its singles "Love Side" and "Shadow in the Night" did not chart. Hines returned to theatre for a Jesus Christ Superstar revival in late 1983, and then decided to devote more time to raising her daughter. During this time, she suffered with health and relationship problems.

Theatre projects for Hines, from 1984, included Big River, Are You Lonesome Tonight? and Jerry's Girls. In 1986 Hines decided she would return to singing, while her daughter Deni was achieving her own successes initially singing with Rockmelons for their top five hits "Ain't No Sunshine" and "That Word (L.O.V.E.)" and then solo for her top five "It's Alright". Hines returned to the stage with a performance in The Masters of Rhythm and Taste in 1993.

In March 1994, Hines toured nationally for the first time in seven years. She signed a new contract with Warner Music Australia to release 'Right Here and Now' in October, which peaked at #21; its singles "Rain (Let the Children Play)" peaked at #47 and "Give it All You've Got" had less success. Her career gradually revived with concert and TV appearances. By 1998, Hines enlisted Rockmelons' members Bryon Jones and Ray Medhurst as producers for 'Time of Our Lives' which charted from August 1999, and peaked at #17. The singles "Flashdance, What a Feeling" (originally recorded by Irene Cara) and "Time of Our Lives" were released with the latter peaking at #31. Hines recorded "Rise", an official song for the Australian team at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. In September 2001, music producer and writer, Karen Dewey wrote Hines' fully authorised biography Diva: the life of Marcia Hines and Hines released a companion compilation CD, 'Diva', in October.

In 2004 she released an album of cover versions, titled 'Hinesight – Songs from the Journey' which featured a duet, with former Home and Away star Belinda Emmett, "Shower the People". In 2005 Hines released a remixed version of her earlier hit "You", followed in 2006 by 'Discotheque' an album containing her versions of disco classics, which peaked at #6. Hines made a cameo appearance on Neighbours in early 2007; on 18 July she was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. In November 2007, Hines released a new album, 'Life' and during December she toured in support of Lionel Richie. 

In October 2010, Hines released 'Marcia Sings Tapestry', a tribute to Carole King's 1971 album 'Tapestry'. It peaked at #16. In April 2014, Hines released her first album of original material in two decades, called 'Amazing'. It spawned three singles and peaked at #27 in Australia. In 2015 Hines starred on stage in the disco musical Velvet, with performances at the Adelaide Fringe, Brisbane and Edinburgh. In early 2015, Marcia Hines covered the song, ''These Boots Are Made for Walkin'', specifically for the trailer of season two of The Real Housewives of Melbourne.

In January 2023, Hines returned to the Channel 7 reboot of Australian Idol, after the show's fourteen-year hiatus, as a judge in the top 50 rounds for three episodes while regular judge Meghan Trainor was in New York due to other commitments. In 2024, Hines will be rejoining Australian Idol as a main judge alongside returning judges Kyle Sandilands and Amy Shark, permanently replacing Trainor.

Later in 2023, Hines released two songs under the same singles package, which was titled ''Last One Standing''. The two songs were called "Last One Standing" and "Hard to Breathe". These two songs then went on to feature in her brand new greatest hits album, 'Still Shining: The 50th Anniversary Ultimate Collection', which was officially released in July 2023, through ABC Music. The album was supported by an Australian tour from July to November 2023. On 25 August 2023, Hines released a cover of Bill Withers' "Lean On Me", which featured as the lead single for her forthcoming fifteenth studio album. The album's second single "Loves Me Like A Rock", was released on 13 October 2023. The album, which was titled 'The Gospel According to Marcia', was officially released on 3 November 2023. Hines has said that the inspiration for the album came when she performed several live shows titled The Gospel According to Marcia Hines alongside a rhythm section and a 12-member choir. These shows received positive reviews inspired Hines to record a gospel album. 'The Gospel According to Marcia' did not reach the ARIA top 50 but peaked at #15 on the ARIA Australian Artist chart and at #2 on the Australian Independent Label Albums chart.

SINGLES 
''Fire And Rain (#17) / You'' 1975 Wizard 
''From The Inside (#10) / Jumpin' Jack Flash'' 1975 Wizard 
''I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself (#6) / Trilogy'' 1976 Wizard 
''You Gotta Let Go (#85) / Don't Let The Grass Grow'' 1976 Wizard 
''(Until) Your Love Broke Through (#38) / Whatever Goes Around'' 1976 Miracle 
''What I Did For Love (#6) / A Love Story'' 1977 Miracle 
''You (#2) / In A Mellow Mood'' 1977 Miracle 
''Music Is My Life (#28) / Empty'' 1978 Miracle 
''Imagination (Live!) / Shining'' 1978 Miracle 
''Let The Music Play (#92) / Empty'' 1978 Miracle 
''Dance You Fool, Dance / Trilogy (Live)'' 1979 Miracle 
''Something's Missing (In My Life) (#9) / Moments'' 1979 Miracle 
''Where Did We Go Wrong (#62) / Dance You Fool, Dance'' 1979 Miracle 
''Your Love Still Brings Me To My Knees (#10) / Till It's Too Late'' 1981 Midnight 
''What A Bitch Is Love (#51) / It Don't Take Much'' 1981 Midnight 
''Jokers And Queens (#62) / The Best Of Me'' [with Jon English] 1982 Midnight 
''Take It From The Boys / Taking It All In Stride'' 1982 Midnight 
''Love Side / The Best Of Me'' 1982 Midnight 
''Heart Like A Radio / She Got You'' 1983 Midnight
"The Lord's Prayer" 1988 WEA
"Rain (Let the Children Play)" (#47) 1994 WEA
"Give It All You Got" 1994 (#53) WEA
"What a Feeling" (#66) 1998 WEA
"Makin' My Way" (#71) 1999 WEA
"Time of Our Lives" (#31) 1999
"Woo Me" (#56) 2000
"Rise" 2000 
(I've Got To) Believe" 2001 —
"Ain't Nobody" 2004 
"You (2005 Remix)" (#59) 2005
''Disco Inferno" 2006 
"Stomp!" (with Deni Hines) (#43) 2006
"I'm Coming Out" 2007
"Get Here If You Can" 2007 
"Amazing" 2014
"Remedy" (with Russell Crowe) 2014
"Heartache" (with Titanium) 2014
"Last One Standing" 2023 
"Lean on Me"2023
"Loves Me Like a Rock" 2023 

EPs 

'From The Inside' 1976 Miracle

ALBUMS
'Marcia Shines' (#4) 1975 Wizard Records 
'Shining' (#3) 1976 Miracle 
'Ladies and Gentlemen' (#6) 1977 Miracle
'Ooh Child' (#15) 1979 Miracle
'Take It from the Boys' (#16) 1981 Midnight
'Jokers and Queens' (#36) [with Jon English] 1982 Midnight 
'Love Sides' 1982 Midnight 
'Right Here and Now' (#21) 1994 Warner Music 
'Time of Our Lives' (#17) 1999 Warner Music 
'Hinesight' (#12) 2004 BMG
'Discotheque' (#6) 2006 Warner Music 
'Life' (#21) 2007 Warner Music 
'Marcia Sings Tapestry' (#16) 2010 Universal Music 
'Amazing' (#27) 2014 Ambition Entertainment 
'The Gospel According to Marcia' 2023 ABC Music 

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcia_Hines

http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/