Marcia Hines

Marcia Hines
Marcia Hines
Born	Marcia Elaine Hines; July 20, 1953 (age 73); Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Occupation(s)	Singer, television personality
Years active	1970–present
Known for	Singer and judge on Australian Idol; first Australian female artist with a platinum-certified album; ARIA Hall of Fame inductee

Marcia Elaine Hines AM (born 20 July 1953) is a singer and television personality originally from the United States who established her career in Australia. She began her professional journey at age 16 in the Australian staging of the musical Hair and subsequently portrayed Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar.

In the late 1970s, Hines enjoyed significant commercial acclaim with hit singles such as renditions of "Fire and Rain", "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself", "You", and "Something's Missing (In My Life)". Her albums Marcia Shines, Shining, and Ladies and Gentlemen all reached the Top Ten charts. She was honored as TV Week's "Queen of Pop" for three consecutive years starting in 1976.

Following a recording hiatus in the early 1980s, Hines made a comeback with the 1994 release Right Here and Now, coinciding with her acquisition of Australian citizenship. Her 2001 biography, Diva: the life of Marcia Hines, was published alongside a compilation album titled Diva. Between 2003 and 2009, and again in 2024, she served as a judge on Australian Idol, which enhanced her public profile and renewed interest in her music catalog. The 2006 album Discothèque reached number six on the ARIA albums chart. In recognition of her contributions, Hines was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2007.

She is also the mother of singer Deni Hines; the pair collaborated on the 2006 duet single "Stomp!". Marcia Hines has sold approximately 2.6 million albums, becoming the first Australian female artist to achieve a platinum-certified album and to have seven consecutive top 20 album releases.

Early life

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Jamaican parents Eugene and Esmeralda Hines, Marcia lost her father when she was six months old due to complications following surgery for a war injury. Among her relatives are notable figures such as former US secretary of state Colin Powell and performer Grace Jones. Raised by her mother alongside an older brother named Dwight, she started singing in church choirs at age nine and performed locally during her teenage years, briefly adopting the stage name Shantee Renee. At fourteen, she earned a scholarship to the New England Conservatory of Music, though she departed after three months. Shortly after turning sixteen, she attended the iconic Woodstock Festival. In 1970, at sixteen years old, she relocated to Australia to join the stage production of Hair.

Career

1970–1974: Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar

At sixteen, Hines was discovered by Australian entrepreneur Harry M. Miller and director Jim Sharman while auditioning in the United States for Australia's production of Hair, which had premiered in Sydney in June 1969. Because she was underage, Miller became her legal guardian during this period. She made her debut performance in April 1970 as the youngest featured cast member ever involved with any production of Hair worldwide. The show was produced by Miller and directed by Sharman, featuring performers like Keith Glass and Sharon Redd. During this engagement, Hines gave birth to her daughter Deni on 4 September 1970 and remarkably returned to performing just nine days later. The success of the production led to an Australian tour.

Subsequently, Miller and Sharman cast her as Mary Magdalene in the Australian staging of Jesus Christ Superstar. She assumed this role from Michele Fawdon during summer 1973 and continued until February 1974, reinforcing her status as a leading figure in Australia's entertainment scene. The cast included prominent artists such as Trevor White, Jon English, and John Paul Young.

1974–1984: Queen of Pop era and further achievements

After concluding Jesus Christ Superstar in 1974, Hines joined the jazz ensemble Daly-Wilson Big Band, contributing vocals to their 1975 album Daly-Wilson Big Band featuring Marcia Hines. Her voice featured on covers including "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?". Extensive touring followed with support slots for artists such as B. B. King and Wilson Pickett in Los Angeles, followed by performances across Europe and the Soviet Union. Later that year, she provided backing vocals on Jim Keays' solo album The Boy from the Stars.

In July 1974, Hines signed with Wizard Records under Robie Porter, releasing her debut solo single—a cover of James Taylor's "Fire and Rain"—which peaked at number 17 on Australian charts by May 1975. From 1976 through 1979, she released five Top Ten singles including covers like Artie Wayne's "From the Inside," Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself," "What I Did for Love" from A Chorus Line, and Karen Carpenter’s "Something's Missing (in My Life)."

Her most successful single was Tom Snow’s "You," which reached number two in October 1977. This upbeat dance track later received a cover version by Rita Coolidge in the United States. Although initially rejected by Porter, it was championed by Mark Kennedy—her band's drummer—leading to its release.

Hines attained Top Ten positions on Australian album charts with releases such as Marcia Shines (#4), Shining (#3), Ladies and Gentlemen (#6), and Marcia Hines Live Across Australia (#7). Collectively, these albums have sold close to one million copies, making her Australia's first female artist to secure a Platinum record.

She earned the title "Queen of Pop" from readers of TV Week consecutively from 1976 through 1978. During this period, she was Australia's highest-selling local artist in both 1977 and 1978 as well as being among the top concert draws between 1976 and 1979. Her visibility increased through appearances on ABC's influential music program Countdown. Her touring band featured notable musicians including Mark Kennedy, Jackie Orszaczky, Stephen Housden (later part of Little River Band), and Peter Whitford. During this time frame, she was married to Kennedy who also designed some of her stage costumes. Between 1978 and 1979, she hosted an ABC television series titled Marcia Hines Music.

By late 1979, following disagreements with Wizard Records owner Robie Porter, Hines signed with Midnight Records under Warner Music Australia. After fulfilling contractual obligations with Wizard Records, she returned with hits such as a Top Ten dance rendition of Dusty Springfield's "Your Love Still Brings Me to My Knees" in 1981. A compilation album titled Greatest Hits, released by Wizard Records, reached number two in January 1982.

In April 1981, she endured personal tragedy when her brother Dwight took his own life—a loss she has described as deeply impactful.

In July 1982, she collaborated with fellow former cast member Jon English from Jesus Christ Superstar on a duet single called "Jokers & Queens" along with a six-track mini-album titled Jokers and Queens. The mini-album peaked at number thirty-six while its single reached number sixty-two on charts. Her subsequent album Love Sides, including singles "Love Side" and "Shadow in the Night," did not chart.

She briefly returned to theatre for a late-1983 revival of Jesus Christ Superstar before focusing on raising her daughter amid health challenges and relationship issues.

1984–1994: Period away from recording

Starting from 1984, Hines concentrated on theatrical projects such as productions of Big River, Are You Lonesome Tonight?, and Jerry's Girls. In 1986, after an accident involving a kitchen fall led to diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, she managed her condition through insulin therapy alongside diet control and exercise. In 1990, she performed as the closing act at Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras—a significant moment marking her return towards public performance. Meanwhile, her daughter Deni found success with Rockmelons’ top-five singles "Ain't No Sunshine" and "That Word (L.O.V.E.)", followed by solo work including "It's Alright". Marcia re-entered stage performance with The Masters of Rhythm and Taste in 1993.

1994–2002: Resumption of recording career

After seven years away from touring nationally, Marcia returned in March 1994 signing again with Warner Music Australia. She released the album Right Here and Now that October which peaked at number twenty-one on charts. Singles included "Rain (Let the Children Play)" reaching number forty-seven along with "Give it All You've Got". Her career gained momentum through concerts and television appearances during this period. By 1998 she collaborated with Rockmelons members Bryon Jones and Ray Medhurst on an album titled Time of Our Lives, which reached number seventeen in early 1999; singles included covers like "Flashdance... What a Feeling" plus "Time of Our Lives," which peaked at thirty-one. She recorded "Rise", designated as an official song for Australia's team at the 2000 Summer Olympics. In 2001 Karen Dewey authored her biography titled Diva: the life of Marcia Hines, which coincided with release of a compilation CD named Diva.

2003–2010: Role on Australian Idol & further projects

Following her mother's passing in May 2003, Hines joined the judging panel for Australian Idol starting July that year. She gained recognition as "the nice judge," despite some critiques; defending herself by highlighting how personal experience guided her mentoring style for contestants. This exposure revitalized interest in her music career; leading to release of an album titled Hinesight – Songs from the Journey in 2004 featuring a duet with Belinda Emmett. In 2005 she released a remix version of "You," followed by disco-themed covers collection called Discothèque which peaked at number six on charts in 2006. Early that year she made a guest appearance on television soap opera Neighbours. On July 18th that year she was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. November saw release of another album titled Life. Later that year she toured alongside Lionel Richie during December dates. She continued serving as an Australian Idol judge through its sixth season beginning August 31st, remaining unique as the only judge present throughout every season up to that point.

2010–present: Ongoing achievements & return to judging

October 2010 marked release of ‘’Marcia Sings Tapestry’’, an homage to Carole King’s iconic ’71 album ‘’Tapestry’’, which reached number sixteen nationally. April 2014 saw release of ‘’Amazing’’, her first original studio work after two decades; it peaked at number twenty-seven producing three singles. In 2015 she starred in disco musical ‘’Velvet’’, performing at major venues including Sydney Opera House; additionally covering "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" for promotional material related to season two of ‘’The Real Housewives of Melbourne’’.

In January 2023 Marcia returned briefly as judge during top fifty rounds over three episodes on Channel Seven’s rebooted ‘’Australian Idol’’, filling temporarily for regular judge Meghan Trainor. She resumed full-time judging duties alongside Kyle Sandilands and Amy Shark permanently replacing Trainor beginning in early-2024.

Later that year she released a two-track singles package titled ‘’Last One Standing’’ consisting of songs “Last One Standing” plus “Hard to Breathe”. These tracks were included on her greatest hits compilation ‘’Still Shining: The 50th Anniversary Ultimate Collection’’, issued via ABC Music in July alongside an accompanying Australian tour running July through November.

On August 25th, 2023 Marcia unveiled a cover version of Bill Withers’ “[Lean On Me]” as lead single ahead of fifteenth studio album launch. The second single “Loves Me Like A Rock” followed October thirteenth; full album entitled ‘’The Gospel According to Marcia’’ released November third that year. Inspired by positive reception from live shows featuring choir accompaniment plus rhythm section arrangements, this gospel-themed collection reflects those experiences.

Although ‘’The Gospel According to Marcia’’ did not enter ARIA’s top fifty overall albums chart it achieved peak positions at number fifteen on ARIA Australian Artist chart plus second place within Australian Independent Label Albums ranking.

Personal life

Hines is mother to daughter Deni Hines, born September fourth, nineteen seventy in Australia shortly after Marcia began performing professionally at age sixteen. She has been married four times including unions with French businessman Andre DeCarpentry along with most recently Christopher Morrissey (married two thousand five; divorced two thousand fourteen).

Diagnosed with asthma during childhood causing frequent school absences; later diagnosed diabetic following collapse caused by kitchen accident fall during nineteen eighty-six requiring insulin treatment combined with lifestyle management. The suicide death of elder brother Dwight deeply affected her emotionally; throughout these challenges support came from mother Esmeralda (“Esme”) who relocated permanently to Australia living together until Esme’s passing in two thousand three.

Discography

Studio albums

Marcia Shines (1975)
Shining (1976)
Ladies and Gentlemen (1977)
Ooh Child (1979)
Take It from the Boys (1981)
Jokers and Queens (with Jon English) (1982)
Love Sides (1982)
Right Here and Now (1994)
Time of Our Lives (1999)
Hinesight (2004)
Discothèque (2006)
Life (2007)
Marcia Sings Tapestry (2010)
Amazing (2014)
The Gospel According to Marcia (2023)

Awards and nominations

ARIA Music Awards

Since their inception in nineteen eighty-seven recognizing excellence across diverse Australian music genres—the ARIA Music Awards have honored numerous artists including Marcia Hines who was inducted into their Hall of Fame during two thousand seven.

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Australia Day Honours

On January twenty-sixth two thousand nine Marcia was appointed Member within Order of Australia acknowledging distinguished service across entertainment industry including performing arts roles plus mentorship responsibilities alongside charitable community engagement.

Australian Women in Music Awards

Established nineteen eighteen these awards annually celebrate outstanding contributions made by women within Australia's music sector recognizing lifetime achievements among others.

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King of Pop Awards

Voted annually by readers from nineteen sixty-seven until nineteen seventy-eight via magazine readership polls—the King Of Pop Awards celebrated popular Australian music performers including multiple wins received by Marcia during peak years.

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Mo Awards

Between nineteen seventy-five through twenty sixteen—the Mo Awards recognized excellence within live entertainment sector nationally; Marcia secured Classic Rock Performer Of The Year accolade during two thousand four ceremony.

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TV Week / Countdown Awards

Broadcast nationally via ABC Television between nineteen seventy-four through eighty-seven—‘’Countdown’’ presented annual awards recognizing popular music acts combining public voting alongside industry peer assessments including multiple nominations received by Marcia over several years.

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