The famous children’s group, The Wiggles is gaining a fresh outlook and new energy with the entrance of new-comer Sam Moran, who is replacing an ailing Greg Page. Greg ceremoniously gifted Moran, with his famous yellow shirt, as posted in a video on “The Wiggle’s official Web” site. “The children seem to be quite occepting of the change, noting that some children have been holding signs saying, Welcome Sam,” said band members. The transition has been a smooth one, much to the relief of Page who has been suffering with a malady called orthostatic intolerance, which means his heart just doesn’t pump enough blood around his body. Page has suffered episodes of fainting and dizziness during the shows.
Sixteen years four friends came together and formed one of the most sucessful children’s groups in history. The Wiggles, were started when Greg Page, Murray Cook, and Anthony Field met while becoming pre-school teachers together at Sydney, Australia’s Macquarie University. Jeff Fatt along with Anthony Field were already singing in a rock band called The Cockroaches. Together the four of them eventually became “The Wiggles.”
The group has been tremendously successful throughout the Australia and the World. In 2004 The Wiggles were Australia’s number one-earning entertainers, beating out Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe.
Murray Cook, likes to keep things in perspective remembering how about six years ago he stood performing playing his now famous red guitar in a parking lot of a Blockbuster Video, in Los Angeles, California. “Its quite incredible what has happened, Cook says, but we have never forgotten the old days. It keeps us grounded”
The following year they started gaining major recognition on The Disney Channel doing their now famous show accompanied by characters known as Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog, Henry the Octopus and Captain Feathersword. They were an instant hit especially with the pre-school crowd and did a sold-out concert at what was then The Universal Amphitheatre, just blocks from that first Blockbuster Video store in Los Angeles.
Back in 2003 the band was sold out for 12 consecutive concerts at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. They performed for more than 250,000 people in November, 2005.
“There was a time when we were quite concerned about the future of the band,” Cook says. “It is sad because we have known each other for so long before all this. It’s a time of rebirth for us.” he said.
During this year and 2008 the Wiggles has plans to release more DVDs that will focus on learning in areas such as reading and math.
This weekend’s upcoming concert is part of the Wiggles, “Racing to the Rainbow,” tour and will include some new songs from their recently released “Racing to the Rainbow,” DVD. There will also be some of the old favorites such as Page’s smooth, “Fruit Salad” and “Hot Potato.”
