The star had only announced her diagnosis on social media on Tuesday May 27

Legendary singer Marcie Jones, who worked with Tom Jones and The Monkees, has died (Image: Marcie Jones Facebook)

Singer Marcie Jones, who worked with Sir Tom Jones and The Monkees amongst others, died on Friday May 30 at the age of 79, just days after she revealed on social media she’d been diagnosed with leukaemia. Her daughter-in-law Lisa Asta announced her death in a Facebook post shared on Saturday May 31.

“It’s with great sadness to let you all know that my beautiful mother-in-law, Marcie Jones, passed away yesterday evening. I feel numb inside. Marc, never again will there be our little outbursts of song and dance. You made me laugh so hard and always gave me great advice. You were a legend, an icon, and you will always be remembered. You always said that we were so alike in many ways, and that’s why I know you will always be my guiding light. I will miss you so much. I love you. Until we meet again to sing another song,” she wrote.

Marcie Jones had been planning a huge gig to celebrate her 80th birthday (Image: Marcie Jones Facebook)

Jones had only announced news of her diagnosis on social media on Tuesday May 27. “Sorry to start the day with rotten news. I am in hospital with leukaemia, starting treatment soon. We are all feeling very scared but I’ll fight as hard as I can,” she reassured her fans.

Her death came just two months before her 80th birthday, which she had been planning to celebrate with a concert for her fans. On March 4 this year she announced her plans on Facebook. “Friends family and everyone. I retired last year very quickly and without much thought. It caused an uproar with my family. So I am doing one more for my 80th and celebrating 65 yrs in showbusiness.

“Who would have thought it would last that long. I will put up details of bookings later for those who would love to join me. It will be on the 29th of June in the afternoon at the Melbourne Bowling Club in Windsor. More details closer to the date. It will be my journey with many friends and music and film. I want it to be a hell of a party. So if you want to join me hold that date,” she wrote.

The Australian star began her career in the 1960s as frontwoman for Marcie and the Cookies, one of the first ‘girl groups’ Down Under. The group was hugely popualr touring extensively throughout Asia, the UK and Europe and even supported The Monkees when they performed Down Under in 1968.

Marcie Jones first found fame in the 1960s fronting Marcie and The Cookies (Image: Getty)
Although the group split in the early 1970s they reunited on several occasions, including a GO!! Show 50th anniversary special at Melbourne’s Palais Theatre in 2014. She had first joined the cast of that show back in 1963.

In 2021, she was interviewed for the Australian Music Vault’s Long Play Series, about her time on the GO!! Show and recalled working Normie Rowe, Johnny Young and Olivia Newton-John. “I was 19, 20. Norm was 17. Olivia was 16. So within three months we were huge names,” she remembered.

She also enjoyed solo success following the Cookies demise, touring with the likes of The Seekers, Cliff Richard and Tom Jones.

Her biggest and best known hit was her 1974 song Gonna Get Married and she continued to perform locally right up until her death.