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The Wiggles

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The Wiggles is a famous Australian children's music group.

Wiggles 2007 Lineup
Wiggles 2007 Lineup

They were formed in Sydney, New South Wales, in 1991. The group uses music and performance to engage young children. Their work is based on concepts from early childhood education. This educational approach helps make their music meaningful for pre-schoolers. They have achieved massive global success through albums, DVDs, and television programs.

TheWiggles 8 Wiki
TheWiggles 8 Wiki

A Wiggles performance is a highly organized sensory experience. The singers wear color-coded shirts to help children identify them easily. For example, Anthony Field wears blue, Murray Cook wears red, Jeff Fatt wears purple, and Greg Page wears yellow.

WigglesActors
WigglesActors

The act is augmented by various costumed characters. These include Dorothy the Dinosaur, Henry the Octopus, and Wags the Dog. A character known as Captain Feathersword, played by Paul Paddick, is also a major part of the show. The group also uses dancers to enhance the energy of their live performances.

The group's history began with a personal tragedy and a shift in career paths. In 1988, Anthony Field's infant niece died of SIDS. This event caused Field's previous band, the Cockroaches, to disband. Field then enrolled at Macquarie University to study early childhood education. He met Murray Cook and Greg Page there, as they were also studying to become pre-school teachers. In 1991, Field decided to create a children's album based on his studies. He recruited Cook, Page, and Jeff Fatt to help him. The name "The Wiggles" came from a Cockroaches song titled "Get Ready to Wiggle."

In the early years, the group operated as a small, independent "cottage industry." Their first album cost approximately A$4,000 to produce. They filmed their own forty-minute video using only two cameras to save time. They even used family members as cast members and had friends make their first costumes. Initially, the members held teaching jobs and only performed during school holidays. They started by playing for small groups at daycares and shopping centers. As their popularity grew, they eventually quit teaching to perform full-time in 1993.

The Wiggles reached a massive scale of success throughout their career. They have sold 23 million DVDs and 7 million CDs. On average, they perform for one million people every year. In 2009 alone, the group earned A$45 million. They have been listed as top-earning Australian entertainers for four consecutive years. Their achievements include multiple Gold and Platinum records. They have also earned many awards from the Australasian Performing Right Association and the Australian Recording Industry Association.

Anthony Field (6640182481)
Anthony Field (6640182481)

The group's lineup has changed significantly over the decades. The original members included Anthony Field, Murray Cook, Jeff Fatt, Greg Page, and Phillip Wilcher. Page retired in 2006 due to ill health and was later replaced by Sam Moran. However, Page returned in 2012. By the end of 2012, Cook, Fatt, and Page retired. They were replaced by Lachlan Gillespie, Simon Pryce, and Emma Watkins.

Wiggles 2007 Lineup
Wiggles 2007 Lineup

Watkins left in 2021, leading to an expanded lineup of eight members. This current group includes members like Tsehay Hawkins and Evie Ferris.

International fame arrived when the group entered the American market in the early 2000s. After performing at Disneyland in California, they were discovered by Lyrick Studios. This company also produced Barney & Friends. The Wiggles even performed during the intermission of Barney Live stage shows. This helped them gain a huge following in the United States. Their success in America was driven by video sales and clever promotion. This helped them move from an Australian success to a global phenomenon.

The Wiggles live in Sydney 2018
The Wiggles live in Sydney 2018
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File:63423main wiggles wave.jpg
63423main wiggles wave.jpg
File:Wiggles 2007 Lineup.jpg
Wiggles 2007 Lineup.jpg
File:WigglesActors.jpg
WigglesActors.jpg
File:The Wiggles live in Sydney 2018.jpg
The Wiggles live in Sydney 2018.jpg
File:TheWiggles 8 Wiki.jpg
TheWiggles 8 Wiki.jpg
File:Anthony Field (6640182481).jpg
Anthony Field (6640182481).jpg
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