Greg Page
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the boxer, see Greg Page (boxer).
- For the American business executive, see Gregory R. Page.
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Gregory John Page (born January 16, 1972 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia) is an Australian musician and actor. He is best known as the original lead vocalist of the children's band The Wiggles. Page has also recorded several solo albums.
Page was a member of the Wiggles from the band's inception in 1991, until retiring due to ill health in November 2006. When performing with the Wiggles, Page wore a yellow shirt. Like the other Wiggles, Page also had a schtick. His was performing magic tricks.
Page's solo albums, starting with a self-titled release in 1998, are more adult oriented. According to his web site, his debut solo album features "songs drawn unselfconsciously from life and its foibles." His latest solo album, "Taking Care of Country" reflects Page's increasing interest in the music of Elvis Presley. This album was recorded with the TCB band, Elvis's back-up band. Page has also accumulated an extensive collection of Elvis memorabilia, including clothing and jewelry worn by Presley as well as the last Cadillac Presley owned before his death in 1977.
In addition to his musical pursuits Page is active in the Australian cricket community. He serves as CEO and chief content officer of Cricketcoach.com, a web site devoted to the sport. Page was a cricket player in his teens before joining the Wiggles.
In 2005 Page had to restrict his activities - and eventually return to Australia in the middle of a tour of the eastern United States and Puerto Rico) - because of a double abdominal hernia.
In the fall of 2006, Page once again missed numerous shows, this time the entire U.S tour after August, due to poor health. Generally, audiences were not informed until just before showtime. This created some controversy. [1]. Sam Moran, a longtime Wiggles understudy, stood in for Page in his absence.
[edit] Illness and Retirement
In 2006, Page was diagnosed with a non-life-threatening yet chronic illness called orthostatic intolerance or POTS. Although the exact cause of Page's illness is unknown, it has been speculated that his 2005 bout with hernias exacerbated it to the point where it rendered him unable to tour with the Wiggles. His replacement for the lead Wiggle is Sam Moran.[2]
On November 30, 2006, Page announced his retirement from The Wiggles due to the illness.[3]. He was succeeded by Moran as a full member of the group.
Page lives in Sydney with his wife, Michelle, and their two children, Blaine and Madison.
