Marcie and The Cookies
Encyclopedia
Marcie & The Cookies were an Australia
n musical ensemble
, made up of Marcie Jones and the three Cook sisters. The all girl, vocal only group, were a rarity in Australia’s “mod” music scene of the 1960s, dominated as it was by all male rock bands and solo artists.
's band The Playboys and appeared on the "Go-Show". She issued five singles from 1965 to 1967 on the Sunshine label with some minor chart success.
In 1967, on the suggestion of Normie Rowe
, she teamed up with the Cook sisters (who were already performing as "The Cookies" ) in Brisbane. Marcie & The Cookies were in the mould of such U.S acts as The Supremes and The Crystals. In early 1968 they came to the attention of "The Twilights" and "The Groove's" Manager Garry Spry, who was so impressed by them he became their manager. Spry got them a recording contract with E.M.I. and put them with his all powerful entertainment agency A.M.B.O. Within 12 months they had become widely known for Marcie's powerful voice and the Cookies superb vocal harmonies and their synchronised stage movements as a result of their appearances on national TV shows, particularly on the pop music 'The Go!! Show
'. They toured Australia as support act for overseas artists such as The Monkees
on their Australian December 1968 tour. That same year Marcie & The Cookies were presented the "Best Female Act for 1968" award by national pop magazine Go-Set and were awarded the "Critics Award" for the top Australian vocal act.
As a group they released only two Columbia singles, however both these singles had regional success mainly in Melbourne & Brisbane. They were in demand for session work such as on the Tony Worsley & The Blue Jays track, Something's Got A Hold On Me. Particularly they should be recognised for their contribution along with musicians: Brian Cadd, piano; Don Mudie, bass and electric guitar solo; Richard Wright - drums (all three from The Groop
); Roger Hicks
(of Zoot
), acoustic guitar intro/rhythm guitar; and The Chiffons' Judy Condon, Maureen Elkner, Pauline Brady on the recording of Russell Morris
's ground breaking psychedelic single "The Real Thing
" in early 1969.
During 1969 they toured South East Asia for three months performing in Singapore
, Kuala Lumpur
, Hong Kong
, Bangkok
and the Philippines
. The tour included performances to Vietnam war
servicemen at American bases. They then performed around Europe and the U.K for two years and were support act and back-up vocalists for Cliff Richard
during that time on his UK tours.
After more than two years overseas Marcie decided to return home to Australia, leaving the Cook sisters to continue on as Cliff's backing singers and joining lead singer Peter Williams
(formerly of The Groove
) in a new group called Spirit of Progress who recorded a couple of singles on the Decca label and was the support act also for Cliff Richard on tour, as well as performing on the UK Cabaret circuit.
On returning to Australia, Marcie Jones then resumed her solo career with a new manager and record label, Atlantic. She released an album and five singles between 1973 and 1976, the second of which, "Gonna Get Married", was her best chart success in 1974.
Marcie has continued to perform both solo and with The Cookies (under the name of Marcie Jones and The Cookies), in stage shows, clubs, concerts and tours supporting major overseas artists until the present day. In their 40 year career they have toured with The Monkees
, Gene Pitney
, Cliff Richard
, The Shadows
, Roy Orbison
, Tom Jones
, Del Shannon
, Ray Stevens
and other performers. They perform a mixture of sixties and soul, ballads and rock.
More recently Marcie has embraced the country genre putting out a country CD in 1999.
In mid-2008, Marcie became a presenter on 100.7 Highlands FM, a community radio station based in the Macedon Ranges in Victoria, Australia, where she co-hosts a weekly show entitled "Blonde and Blonder".
In December 2008, Network Creative Services published the 400 page Marcie Jones autobiography 'Runs In The Blood' (ISBN 978-0-9580162-9-2). The book deals with Marcie’s entertainment career, the Australian franchise of Koala Blue, the breakup with Australian ‘King Of Pop’ Normie Rowe, arriving at hospital to give birth with Gerry Marsden (of Merseybeat fame), having her second child born premature, and performing for the Pope! Marcie Jones is an unsung Australian music legend. Her story will give you an intimate insight into the psyche of a true survivor.
Albums
Compilation album
(Shared with The Blue Jays, Peter Doyle, Toni McCann, The Playboys, Ricky & Tammy, Normie Rowe, Tony Worsley)
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n musical ensemble
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, made up of Marcie Jones and the three Cook sisters. The all girl, vocal only group, were a rarity in Australia’s “mod” music scene of the 1960s, dominated as it was by all male rock bands and solo artists.
Personnel
- Marcie Jones (vocals)
- Beverley Cook (vocals)
- Margaret Cook (vocals)
- Wendy Cook (vocals)
History
Marcie Jones started as a teenager with The Thunderbirds at Canterbury Ballroom and Preston Town Hall in Melbourne, Australia, in the early '60s. She then went on to perform with Normie RoweNormie Rowe
Norman John "Normie" Rowe AM was a major male solo performer of Australian pop music in the 1960s. Known for his bright and edgy tenor voice and dynamic stage presence, many of Rowe's most successful recordings were produced by Pat Aulton, house producer for the Sunshine Records, Spin Records and...
's band The Playboys and appeared on the "Go-Show". She issued five singles from 1965 to 1967 on the Sunshine label with some minor chart success.
In 1967, on the suggestion of Normie Rowe
Normie Rowe
Norman John "Normie" Rowe AM was a major male solo performer of Australian pop music in the 1960s. Known for his bright and edgy tenor voice and dynamic stage presence, many of Rowe's most successful recordings were produced by Pat Aulton, house producer for the Sunshine Records, Spin Records and...
, she teamed up with the Cook sisters (who were already performing as "The Cookies" ) in Brisbane. Marcie & The Cookies were in the mould of such U.S acts as The Supremes and The Crystals. In early 1968 they came to the attention of "The Twilights" and "The Groove's" Manager Garry Spry, who was so impressed by them he became their manager. Spry got them a recording contract with E.M.I. and put them with his all powerful entertainment agency A.M.B.O. Within 12 months they had become widely known for Marcie's powerful voice and the Cookies superb vocal harmonies and their synchronised stage movements as a result of their appearances on national TV shows, particularly on the pop music 'The Go!! Show
The Go!! Show
The Go!! Show was a top rating Australian popular music television series which aired on ATV-0 Melbourne from 1964 to 1967, and was produced by DYT Productions at the Channel 0 studios in Nunawading, Victoria....
'. They toured Australia as support act for overseas artists such as The Monkees
The Monkees
The Monkees are an American pop rock group. Assembled in Los Angeles in 1966 by Robert "Bob" Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968, the musical acting quartet was composed of Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork,...
on their Australian December 1968 tour. That same year Marcie & The Cookies were presented the "Best Female Act for 1968" award by national pop magazine Go-Set and were awarded the "Critics Award" for the top Australian vocal act.
As a group they released only two Columbia singles, however both these singles had regional success mainly in Melbourne & Brisbane. They were in demand for session work such as on the Tony Worsley & The Blue Jays track, Something's Got A Hold On Me. Particularly they should be recognised for their contribution along with musicians: Brian Cadd, piano; Don Mudie, bass and electric guitar solo; Richard Wright - drums (all three from The Groop
The Groop
The Groop were an Australian folk, R&B and rock band formed in 1964 in Melbourne, Australia and had their greatest chart success with their second line-up of Max Ross on bass, Richard Wright on drums and vocals, Don Mudie on lead guitar, Brian Cadd on keyboards and vocals, and Ronnie Charles on...
); Roger Hicks
Roger Hicks (rock musician)
Roger Hicks is an Australian rock musician active for a few years in the late 1960s. Early in life, he also trained as a classical guitarist.He performed in the groups Zoot throughout 1968 and early 1969 and "The Brisbane Avengers", and also composed and performed the acoustic guitar introduction...
(of Zoot
Zoot (band)
Zoot are a pop/rock band formed in Adelaide, South Australia in 1965 as Down the Line. They changed their name to Zoot in 1967 and by 1968 had relocated to Melbourne...
), acoustic guitar intro/rhythm guitar; and The Chiffons' Judy Condon, Maureen Elkner, Pauline Brady on the recording of Russell Morris
Russell Morris
Russell Norman Morris is an Australian singer-songwriter who had five Australian Top 10 singles during the late 1960s and early 1970s...
's ground breaking psychedelic single "The Real Thing
The Real Thing (Russell Morris song)
"The Real Thing" is a song originally recorded by Australian singer Russell Morris in 1969. His version, which was produced by Ian "Molly" Meldrum and written by Johnny Young, was a huge hit in Australia and has become an Australian rock classic...
" in early 1969.
During 1969 they toured South East Asia for three months performing in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. The tour included performances to Vietnam war
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
servicemen at American bases. They then performed around Europe and the U.K for two years and were support act and back-up vocalists for Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
during that time on his UK tours.
After more than two years overseas Marcie decided to return home to Australia, leaving the Cook sisters to continue on as Cliff's backing singers and joining lead singer Peter Williams
Peter Williams
Peter Williams is the name of:* Sir Peter Williams , former chairman of Oxford Instruments; Chancellor, University of Leicester* Peter Williams , New Zealand television presenter...
(formerly of The Groove
The Groove (band)
Formed in mid 1967, The Groove are considered to be Australia's first "supergroup" in that all members had considerable experience behind them in a number of successful bands...
) in a new group called Spirit of Progress who recorded a couple of singles on the Decca label and was the support act also for Cliff Richard on tour, as well as performing on the UK Cabaret circuit.
On returning to Australia, Marcie Jones then resumed her solo career with a new manager and record label, Atlantic. She released an album and five singles between 1973 and 1976, the second of which, "Gonna Get Married", was her best chart success in 1974.
Marcie has continued to perform both solo and with The Cookies (under the name of Marcie Jones and The Cookies), in stage shows, clubs, concerts and tours supporting major overseas artists until the present day. In their 40 year career they have toured with The Monkees
The Monkees
The Monkees are an American pop rock group. Assembled in Los Angeles in 1966 by Robert "Bob" Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968, the musical acting quartet was composed of Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork,...
, Gene Pitney
Gene Pitney
Eugene Francis Alan Pitney, known as Gene Pitney , was an American singer-songwriter, musician and sound engineer. Through the mid-1960s, he enjoyed success as a recording artist on both sides of the Atlantic and was among the group of early 1960s American acts who continued to enjoy hits after the...
, Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
, The Shadows
The Shadows
The Shadows are a British pop group with a total of 69 UK hit-charted singles: 35 as 'The Shadows' and 34 as 'Cliff Richard and the Shadows', from the 1950s to the 2000s. Cliff Richard in casual conversation with the British rock press frequently refers to the Shadows by their nickname: 'The Shads'...
, Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison
Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
, Tom Jones
Tom Jones (singer)
Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
, Del Shannon
Del Shannon
Del Shannon was an American rock and roll singer-songwriter who had a No. 1 hit, "Runaway", in 1961.- Biography :...
, Ray Stevens
Ray Stevens
Ray Stevens is an American country music, pop singer-songwriter who has become known for his novelty songs.-Early career:...
and other performers. They perform a mixture of sixties and soul, ballads and rock.
More recently Marcie has embraced the country genre putting out a country CD in 1999.
In mid-2008, Marcie became a presenter on 100.7 Highlands FM, a community radio station based in the Macedon Ranges in Victoria, Australia, where she co-hosts a weekly show entitled "Blonde and Blonder".
In December 2008, Network Creative Services published the 400 page Marcie Jones autobiography 'Runs In The Blood' (ISBN 978-0-9580162-9-2). The book deals with Marcie’s entertainment career, the Australian franchise of Koala Blue, the breakup with Australian ‘King Of Pop’ Normie Rowe, arriving at hospital to give birth with Gerry Marsden (of Merseybeat fame), having her second child born premature, and performing for the Pope! Marcie Jones is an unsung Australian music legend. Her story will give you an intimate insight into the psyche of a true survivor.
Marcie & The Cookies
Singles- "All Or Nothing" / "I Would If I Could" - 1968 (#2 Brisbane, #28 Melbourne)
- "White Christmas" / "You On My Mind" - 1968 (#23 Brisbane0
Marcie Jones
Singles- "Quiet" / "I Wanna Know" - 1965 (#29 Melbourne)
- "Imagine" / "When A Girl Falls In Love" - 1965
- "Danny Boy" / "That Hurts" - 1966
- "That's The Way It Is" / "Big Lovers Come In Small Packages" - 1967 {#34 Brisbane}
- "You Can't Bypass Love" / "He's Gonna Be Fine Fine Fine" - 1967
- "Armed And Extremely Dangerous" / "Over The Rainbow" - 1973 (#17 Brisbane, #22 Adelaide}
- "Gonna Get Married" / "I Found My Freedom" - 1974 (#10 Melbourne, #3 Adelaide)
- "I Only Have Eyes For You" / "Gonna Make It" - 1974 (#11 Adelaide)
- "Baby I Need Your Loving" / "Hurts So Good" - 1975
- "Back In Your Arms Again" / "I Like Your Music" - 1976
Albums
- That Girl Jones - 1973
Compilation album
- The Bowl Show - 1965-66 - Included two tracks; "I Wanna Know" and "Quiet"
(Shared with The Blue Jays, Peter Doyle, Toni McCann, The Playboys, Ricky & Tammy, Normie Rowe, Tony Worsley)
External links
- Marcie Jones Autobiography: Runs In The Blood
- Marcie Jones and The Cookies Web Site
- Marcie Jones Web Site
- Marcie Jones page at EntertainOz
- Pop Archives - All or Nothing Feature
- Pop Archives - I Would If I Could Feature
- Gavin Ryan's Chart Books
- Milesago - Reference to backing Tony Worsley & The Blue Jays on single Somethings Got A Hold On Me (Etta James Song)
- Reference to Marcie & The Cookies
- Legends of Sixties Rock