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Whatever Happened to the Original Wiggles?

The Wiggles

Whatever Happened to the Original Wiggles?

If you were a kid in the late ‘90s or early 2000s, chances are you watched a beloved Australian children’s entertainment group known as The Wiggles on repeat. The Wiggles, who are renowned for their unique combination of fun, education, and music, have become an international hit. Their colorful characters, catchy songs, and dynamic performances make them memorable. We know that the cast changed in 2022, but whatever happened to the original Wiggles? Join us as we delve into the history and cast of The Wiggles.

The Wiggles

The Formation of the Wiggles

Before the Wiggles in the 1980s, Anthony Field and Jeff Fatt were in an Australian pop band called The Cockroaches. At the time, Murray Cook was a member of several bands. Later, Cook met Field and Greg Page at Macquarie University. They were all studying at the time to become preschool teachers.

Phillip Wilcher (who played piano from the age of eight and had his first work published at the age of 14) started working in the early childhood music department at Macquarie University in the late 1980s. Field met Wilcher in 1990, and that was when he felt motivated to make a children’s music album based on early childhood education. He then recruited Page, Fatt, and Cook. And asked Wilcher to help record their debut album. Thank goodness they did, because the world wouldn’t be the same without their catchy tunes and colorful skivvies.

The Wiggles Whatever Happened to the Original Wiggles?

Members

Without its colorful cast of characters, The Wiggles wouldn’t be the same. Kids loved the lively atmosphere that each member created with their unique qualities for the group. Before the production of their third album, The Wiggles decided to wear color-coded shirts. Fatt and Cook already owned shirts in their colors of purple and red. Field wanted a blue shirt, so Page and he dashed to the store to see who would get the blue one. What a race! Field got their first, and Page ended up with a yellow shirt. Furthermore, Field switched from a green shirt to blue to avoid clashing with Dorothy the Dinosaur. Let’s take a look at each Wiggle.

Anthony Field – Blue Wiggle (1991 – Present)

Anthony Field was the brains behind the operation of The Wiggles. He is the only original member of the Wiggles today. He is the youngest of seven children. In 1991, The Wiggles recorded their first CD; it sold 100,000 copies. Furthermore, in 2018, Field started the Unusual Commoner band for adult fans with David O’Reilly, Oliver Brian, and associate Wiggles member Lachlan Gillespie. They play a mixture of traditional Australian, Scottish, Irish, and folk songs. In late 2018, they played their first international show in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. As of 2022, Field's daughter Lucia Field acts as Blue Wiggle when he is unavailable.

Murray Cook – Red Wiggle (1991 – 2012)

Murray Cook provided songwriting, guitar, and vocals to the Wiggles group. After he retired, he remained involved in production and creativity. Furthermore, in 2013, he served as the team's touring manager. He then went on to explore other projects. In 2015, he played lead guitar for the Proposition on their album Edge of the Dancefloor. Cook later became a member of the Sydney soul-rock band the Soul Movers, where he showcased his passion for music and guitar skills. From 2013 until present, Simon Pryce has taken over the role of Red Wiggle along with Caterina Mete, who joined in 2022.

Jeff Fatt – Purple Wiggle (1991 – 2012)

Jeff Fatt is a Chinese Australian actor and musician. Before The Wiggles, he also performed with Anthony Field in the pop band The Cockroaches. Out of all the original Wiggles members, Jeff was the oldest. In 2013, Lachlan Gillespie replaced Purple Wiggle. Lachlan gave birth in September 2020 to twin girls, and it was announced that she would take some time off to spend with her new babies. Fatt decided he would temporarily replace her while on maternity leave. In 2021, John Pearce joined and shares the role of Purple Wiggle with Lachlan Gillespie.

Greg Page – Yellow Wiggle (1991 – 2006, 2012)

Greg Page is an Australian actor, musician, and singer. He is a founding member and lead singer of The Wiggles. He has also recorded several solo albums, and Here Comes Christmas was released in 2015. Page suffered from health conditions in the early 2000s, which led him to take a brief retirement in 2006. In 2009 he came out of retirement and started to perform a few live performances. After going into cardiac arrest in 2020, Page became a spokesperson for heart health and founded the Heart of the Nation Charity.

Sam Moran – Yellow Wiggle (2006-2012)

From 2006 to 2012, Sam Moran played the Yellow Wiggle. He studied music and classical voice education at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and wanted to become a high school music teacher. In 2010, Moran released his first solo album through Sony Music called Colour of Love. The album features covers of popular love songs, including “You Make Loving Fun” by Fleetwood Mac. Furthermore, between 2013 and 2021, Moran hosted a preschool series called Play Along with Sam on Nick Jr. In 2015, Moran beat his former bandmates, the Wiggles, and won the ARIA Music Award for Best Children’s Album.

Emma Watkin – Yellow Wiggle (2013 – 2021)

Emma Watkins is an Australian children’s author, entertainer, television presenter, singer and dancer. She was the first female member to join the Wiggles. She starred in her own spin-off series called Emma! as a solo Wiggles actor. After leaving the group in 2022, she launched her own children’s entertainment character called Emma Memma and released her own solo album. In 2023, the album received an ARIA Award for Best Children’s Album. Furthermore, she has also appeared in The Amazing Race Australia, The Masked Singer, and a Christmas special of Lego Masters Australia. She also hosted Teenage Boss: Next Level (2024) and narrated the series Reef School. Emma was then replaced by Tsehay Hawkins and Evie Ferris.

Whatever happened to the original Wiggles? After the original members retired, a new generation formed. The Wiggles continue to introduce new members and entertain new generations, focusing on music and encouraging children around the world. Have you ever wondered what happend to the cast of Barney? Find out here.

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