Deni Hines
by Tom DemalonAustralian singer Deni Hines received an education on the entertainment industry as her mother is Marcia Hines, an expatriate from Boston who has become a legendary performer in her adopted homeland, scoring a string of Top Ten singles there in the '70s. Deni began her own career singing backup for acts like Wa Wa Nee and Peter Blakeley. However, she first gained mainstream, public attention while fronting the Sydney-based act the Rockmelons. The group, with Hines as the frontwoman, notched several Australian hits in 1990, including "Ain't No Sunshine," "That Word (L.O.V.E.)," and "It's Not Over," before she left the band. Hines spent time performing on-stage with a production of Jesus Christ Superstar prior to pursuing a solo career. Her initial single, "It's Alright," became a Top Ten smash in Australia in 1996, as well as charting in Japan and France, and her full-length debut, Imagination, made her an international star. She...