Australian music royalty Marcia Hines is currently touring every inch of Australia with her Still Shining concert. It has been over fifty years since Marcia first arrived in Australia to join the cast of Hair, and to celebrate her sensational career Marcia is touring the country to celebrate her twenty-two albums and 2.6 million copies sold as well as the countless chart-topping singles that have made up a major part of her career.
In the lead up to her two final performances in South Australia, Marcia spoke to Glam Adelaide about the tour and her music.
With so many wonderful achievements to her name, we asked Marcia if she ever thought she’d be where she is today when she first started in the industry.
“Oh, please! Hell no.” Marcia laughed. “Let’s be real – I came to Australia for six months, and I signed a six-month contract…and here I am over 50 years later. My daughter’s 54 today so she’s kind of like my calendar.”
Music has always been an important part of Marcia’s life.
“I was always a musician from about four years old, and I remember just being insistent that I had to listen to the radio on a Sunday, because there was a guy on the radio called Casey Kasem, who would tell you all the songs that were happening in America at that point in time. I would just sit in front of the radio – my mother must have thought I was the weirdest kid. I was always encouraged to follow my dreams, and all I ever dreamt of doing was singing. So lo and behold, many years later, here I am still living my dream.”
Marcia has so many accolades to her name, and we were curious to find out if she has any stand out moments from her career.
“I have to say I’d start with winning Queen of Pop. Back in the day that was a big deal and it still is. I always say to people who say awards are a bull, that they say that because they never got one. It really means a lot that your peers care for you and encourage you.”
For so many people, Marcia’s music has been a huge part of their lives.
“I love hearing stories about how my music has played a part in someone’s life. You hope and dream that your music becomes part of the tapestry of people’s lives, even the songs that make you sad. It’s okay because that’s why I sing them. I call them boo-hoo songs.”
Not only has Marcia been touring her Still Shining performance to all capital cities, but she has also been performing in regional centres. We asked Marcia how important it is to take music out to these centres.
“Hell yeah it’s important! I love Sydney, I love Melbourne, I love Adelaide, I love Perth; I love all the big cities, but they get everything. When you go to rural areas, people are so happy that you’re there, because you’re saying to them all those places are just as important, if not more important than the big cities.”
Marcia has two final performances in Adelaide this weekend: Friday 4 October – Norwood Concert Hall, Norwood and Saturday 5 October – Helpmann Theatre, Mount Gambier.
“I hope the audiences come and have a night full of joy and some fun. The world’s upside down at the moment and I think we all need escapism and entertainment.”
Marcia Hines: Still Shining Tour
Friday 4 October – Norwood Concert Hall, Norwood
Saturday 5 October – Helpmann Theatre, Mount Gambier
https://marciahines.com/
Photo credit: Robert Catto
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