Maria Dallas (born Marina Devcich or Marina Devčić, between of the 1940s and 1950s) was discovered at a talent contest in small town Morrinsville, New Zealand. Her first single "Tumblin' Down", written by Jay Epae, released in 1966 and made it to #11 in the charts. It also won her a Loxene Golden Disk Award.[1] She released several albums and singles before moving on to Australia in 1967 and then to Nashville. She returned to New Zealand in 1970 and scored a #1 hit with the song "Pinocchio".