Rodney Stevens
After more than 50 years performing and releasing 22 hit albums that have sold more than 2.6 million copies, Australian music royalty, Marcia Hines is bringing her renowned stage presence to Grafton’s Saraton Theatre on her ‘Still Shining’ concert tour.
Last week, Marcia spoke to the CV Independent about her upcoming performance in Grafton and her life in music.
Growing up in Boston USA, Marcia said she had been singing since she was 4 years old and when she heard about auditions for the Australian production of Hair, she jumped at the chance to kick start her career.
Landing the role at just 16, Marcia left the US bound for Australia thinking she would be back home within 6 months, but in 1994 when she was asked by the Australian government to become an Australian Citizen she jumped at the chance and hasn’t looked back as her musical career took off.
Her memories of the Clarence Valley stretch back to the 1970’s when she was touring Australia, and she learned to water ski on the Clarence River at Grafton.
“I actually learnt to water ski in Grafton with Ed Wilson from the Daly Wilson Big Band in the 1970’s,” she said.
“Did I like it, no.
“I actually like snow skiing, but I don’t like being dragged behind a boat, and I remember I actually lost a piece of jewellery in the river.”
People attending Marcia’s show at the Saraton Theatre on Saturday, August 31, can look forward to an expansive set list covering all of their favourite songs.
“We have put a repertoire together that we hope will please everyone,” she said.
“That’s the hardest thing, because there are so many songs, but it’s so important to remember the old songs that you started off with, because that’s what I think the audience want to hear.
“People will enjoy a lot of the old songs and just two of my new songs, and I also have a chat.”
After more than 5 decades gracing stages around Australia and the world, Marcia said she still gets nervous before every performance, “even after all of these years,” she said.
“I really do enjoy what I do for a living, its my blessing because I love singing.”
“My favourite song is still Fire and Rain, the first thing I ever sang, the first thing that I was taken seriously enough that someone took me into a recording studio and allowed me to live my dream,” she said.
“Most singers that’s what they want to do, to record a song and leave a legacy.
“I still love listening to it and I still love the song, not my version, I listen to James Taylor because I’ve got a huge crush on him.
“When I left Boston, the song was becoming a huge hit on the radio and when I landed in Sydney, I turned on the radio and that song was being played and becoming a hit here in Australia.
“It kept me company, it was something that I truly knew, so I said to myself if I ever get the chance, I should record that song and I was actually able to live my dream.”
To book tickets to see Marcia Hines live at the Saraton from 7.30pm on August 31 visit https://www.movietkts.com.au/selecttickets.php?siteCode=GRAFTN&sessionIndex=90728