WHEN MARCIA HINES arrived in Australia in 1973 she had no idea she would one day be the nation's Queen of Soul.
The 16-year-old aspiring entertainer was thrilled to win a role in HARRY M. MILLER's Australian production of HAIR .
Just like many hopefuls who auditioned for Hines on the AUSTRALIAN IDOL series, her rise to the top would be tough.
Hines had to prove herself to Miller in order to win a role in his production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. ``Harry Miller said to me: `I think you'll be great in Superstar' , but he wouldn't let me leave Hair until it was closed,'' Hines said.
``Then he said: `We'll give you a couple of weeks in Superstar and see how you go. And if you don't go good, you don't have the gig'.'' `The pressure is always on. Welcome to the industry.'' From musical-theatre star to Australian Idol judge, Hines's dazzling career has surfaced thanks to plenty of hard work and an undeniable talent.
After starring as MARY MAGDALENE in Jesus Christ Superstar , Hines set out to make her mark in the music world.
She won the hearts of Australian audiences and launched a successful solo career that produced a string of pop hits.
She became Australia's biggest-selling female recording artist of the 1970s and picked up three COUNTDOWN Queen of Pop crowns along the way.
Her hits included Your Love Still Brings Me To My Knees, You (Without You!) , and Something's Missing (In My Life). In that period Hines also toured overseas with the DALY WILSON BIG BAND, had her own national television show and was crowned Queen of Pop three times.
But in 1986 Hines was forced to re-evaluate her life when she fell over in her kitchen and was rushed to hospital where she was diagnosed with diabetes.
``I was in hospital next to this girl who had had two major operations. She looked over to me and said, `You know, we could be really sick couldn't we?' and that brought me down to earth .
``I realised it wasn't a big deal.
``It's something that can be treated. I don't believe life dishes out more than you are able to deal with.'' With her sights still firmly set on the music industry, Hines made her long-awaited return in 1994 with the album Right Here and Now. It marked Hines's first new album in 12 years.
In 1999 she teamed up with THE ROCKMELONS who worked with her daughter DENI HINES in the early 1990s to release the album Time Of Our Lives which boasted a Top 10 single of the same name.
Australia still proved fond of Hines around the turn of the millennium when her song Rise was chosen as the official team song of the Australian Olympic Team.
Hines said she was ``incredibly honoured and inspired'' that Rise was picked.
In 2001 she released an autobiography titled Diva and an album of the same name which revealed the triumphs and tragedies of her 30-year career.
Hines will perform at WESTS LEAGUES CLUB on February 25.
Tickets are on sale from the club.
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