With a career spanning 50 years and across stage, screen and live performance, Marcia Hines shows no signs of slowing down. The incredible songstress brings the Marcia Hines: Still Shining Tour to Canberra Theatre Centre on 29 August. CD caught up with Ms Hines ahead of the show to discuss a half-century of performing, highlights and Australian Idol.
What can the audience expect from the upcoming show?
I really hope that a fun night will be had by all. It’s a concert with all my old hits, lots of stories and opportunities for the audience to participate. The band and I have enjoyed every minute of the time on stage.
When did you know you wanted to be a performer?
I’ve been singing since I was four years old in church and here I am at 71, still singing! There was never a time when I did not see singing as my chosen journey in life. I am one of the lucky ones!
How has the music industry changed over the 50 years you have been in the business?
It’s changed so much that I often don’t know where to begin to explain it. Particularly, the record industry is no longer about album sales but about streaming and the time and the money spent to record is more limited. But ultimately, as it has always been, it remains a business where live performance is king.
We are all still out there enjoying every minute. Being on the road and performing continues to be my life and it’s the same for most of the people I know, young and old, that are treading the boards.
Any career highlights?
So many that I find it difficult to pick out one. Winning Queen of Pop so many years ago was such a wonderful acceptance of my decision to remain in Australia. Then there was the Royal Command Performance for Prince Charles and Lady Diana and the gospel shows in 2023 at St Stephen’s Church as part of the Vivid Festival. I could continue for some time but I’m grateful for every one of those highlights and hopefully there are more to come.
Did you expect Australian Idol to run for so long?
The truth of the matter is no one did! The first run of the show lasted for seven years and now here I am, back 20 years later and listening to young singers with as much talent as we found in the first seven years. I am so pleased to have returned and am loving every minute of it.
What motivates you to continue as a judge?
It’s the kids that enter that I most relate to. There but for the grace of God go I!
It’s something I really enjoy and feel I am able to connect with the contestants as a singer and as someone who has been through it all. I also like to think I am giving something back to the industry that’s been so good to me!
You released two albums last year, The Gospel According to Marcia and Still Shining: The 50th Anniversary Ultimate Collection, tell us about them.
The Gospel According to Marcia was a very heartfelt project because most black children in America start singing in church and that’s where I learnt. So with that album, I was paying homage to the beginning of my singing life.
Still Shining is a compilation of all of my recording career so far with two fantastic new, Australian-composed songs. We had trouble keeping it down to the 22 songs on the album and to reflect on 50 years of recording and performing makes me feel very humble.
Do you have a favourite song to perform?
Fire and Rain, it was the first song I ever recorded and I was still in Jesus Christ Superstar at the time. That it became a hit was an enormous surprise and it was the start of my career In Australia.
Anything on your to-do list while in Canberra?
Yes, if there’s an exhibition at the National Gallery I will certainly go there. The Portrait Gallery nearby is also another favourite but if I have a minute between sound checks and performances, I simply adore the walk around Lake Burley Griffin. It is so peaceful and really good for the head before performing!
What’s next for you?
This concert tour has 42 dates and continues through until Christmas, then I travel to Brisbane for a final season of Grease the Musical. Then we are back into Australian Idol live performances through February, March and a little bit of April. I am hoping after that I might get a couple of weeks’ break before the next challenge. I’m not complaining mind you, I am lucky to be doing what I love.
See Marcia Hines: The Still Shining Tour live at Canberra Theatre Centre on Thursday 29 July 7:30pm; canberratheatrecentre.com.au.
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