Greg Page
Encyclopedia
Gregory John "Greg" Page AM (born 16 January 1972 in Sydney
, New South Wales
) is an Australia
n musician and actor. He is best known as the original lead vocalist and a founding member of the children's band The Wiggles
. Page has also recorded several solo albums.
and Murray Cook
when they were Early Childhood Education
students at Macquarie University
, and combined their music backgrounds and teaching skills to form The Wiggles
. When performing with The Wiggles, Page wore a yellow shirt. Like the other Wiggles, Page had a schtick
, which was doing magic
tricks.
His 2005 solo album, Taking Care of Country, reflects Page's interest in Elvis Presley
's music. It was recorded with the TCB Band
, Elvis' back-up band. In spring 2003, Page performed in Las Vegas with the TCB Band. In 2002, Page sang back-up with Australian Elvis impersonator
Mick Gerace
.
Page had experienced health difficulties since December 2005, when he underwent a double hernia
operation and withdrew from his group's U.S. tour after suffering repeated fainting spells, slurred speech, fatigue, and trembling. Although Page was missing for virtually all of the late 2006 U.S. tour, audiences were informed of Page's absence at concerts moments before the curtain went up. At first, Page was told that he had seven years to live, but he was diagnosed with a non-life-threatening and difficult to diagnose chronic illness called orthostatic intolerance
or dysautonomia
, which causes symptoms such as fatigue and loss of balance. Specialists believed that Page had mild episodes of the illness going back twelve years, and that his symptoms worsened after his hernias. It was decided that Page would retire from performing with The Wiggles
to better manage his health. In the months following the announcement of Page's retirement, he received an "overwhelming outpouring of public support". He reported that it took his parents six months to respond to the "mountains of letters, emails and sympathy notes".
Page was succeeded by Sam Moran
as a full member of the group.
band, but with a more limited schedule than The Wiggles. He had also started his own foundation, the Greg Page Fund, to raise funds and educate the public about orthostatic intolerance
. In addition, he is a supporter of, and spokesperson for, the Dysautonomia Youth Network of America (DYNA).
memorabilia in the world. His collection includes Elvis' personal and movie clothing, marriage certificate, guitar, piano, the last Cadillac owned by Elvis, and original TCB Band necklaces. In 2008 he decided to donate the collection, reportedly worth $
1.5 million, to a new Elvis museum in Parkes, New South Wales
. Some of the collection was lent for display at the 2008 Parkes Elvis Festival.
Page was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia on 26 January 2010 "For service to the arts, particularly children's entertainment, and to the community as a benefactor and supporter of a range of charities".
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
) is an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n musician and actor. He is best known as the original lead vocalist and a founding member of the children's band The Wiggles
The Wiggles
The Wiggles are a children's group formed in Sydney, Australia in 1991. Their original members were Anthony Field, Phillip Wilcher, Murray Cook, Greg Page, and Jeff Fatt. Wilcher left the group after their first album...
. Page has also recorded several solo albums.
Career
Page met Anthony FieldAnthony Field
Anthony Donald Field AM is an Australian musician and actor. He is best known as a member of the children's group The Wiggles and the 1980s and 90s band The Cockroaches with his brothers, Paul and John and another future Wiggle, Jeff Fatt.Field was the youngest of seven children, and grew up in...
and Murray Cook
Murray Cook
Murray James Cook AM is an Australian vocalist, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as one of the founding members of the children's band The Wiggles...
when they were Early Childhood Education
Early childhood education
Early childhood education is the formal teaching and care of young children by people other than their family or in settings outside of the home. 'Early childhood' is usually defined as before the age of normal schooling - five years in most nations, though the U.S...
students at Macquarie University
Macquarie University
Macquarie University is an Australian public teaching and research university located in Sydney, with its main campus situated in Macquarie Park. Founded in 1964 by the New South Wales Government, it was the third university to be established in the metropolitan area of Sydney...
, and combined their music backgrounds and teaching skills to form The Wiggles
The Wiggles
The Wiggles are a children's group formed in Sydney, Australia in 1991. Their original members were Anthony Field, Phillip Wilcher, Murray Cook, Greg Page, and Jeff Fatt. Wilcher left the group after their first album...
. When performing with The Wiggles, Page wore a yellow shirt. Like the other Wiggles, Page had a schtick
Schtick
A shtick is a comic theme or gimmick. "Shtick" is derived from the Yiddish word shtik , meaning "piece"; the closely related German word Stück has the same meaning. The English word "piece" itself is also sometimes used in a similar context...
, which was doing magic
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
tricks.
His 2005 solo album, Taking Care of Country, reflects Page's interest in Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
's music. It was recorded with the TCB Band
TCB Band
The TCB Band was a group of professional musicians who formed the core rhythm section of Elvis Presley’s band from August 1969 until his death in 1977. TCB stands for Taking Care of Business, a personal motto Presley adopted in the early 1970s...
, Elvis' back-up band. In spring 2003, Page performed in Las Vegas with the TCB Band. In 2002, Page sang back-up with Australian Elvis impersonator
Elvis impersonator
An Elvis impersonator is someone who impersonates or copies famed American musician Elvis Presley. Professional Elvis impersonators can work all over the world as entertainers, and such tribute acts are in great demand due to the unique iconic status of Elvis...
Mick Gerace
Mick Gerace
MIck Gerace is an Australian musician.-Career:For many years, Mick Gerace sang well known blues, pop and rock songs while touring with his band throughout Australia...
.
Illness and retirement
On 30 November 2006, The Wiggles announced that Greg Page would leave the group due to poor health.Page had experienced health difficulties since December 2005, when he underwent a double hernia
Hernia
A hernia is the protrusion of an organ or the fascia of an organ through the wall of the cavity that normally contains it. A hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach protrudes into the mediastinum through the esophageal opening in the diaphragm....
operation and withdrew from his group's U.S. tour after suffering repeated fainting spells, slurred speech, fatigue, and trembling. Although Page was missing for virtually all of the late 2006 U.S. tour, audiences were informed of Page's absence at concerts moments before the curtain went up. At first, Page was told that he had seven years to live, but he was diagnosed with a non-life-threatening and difficult to diagnose chronic illness called orthostatic intolerance
Orthostatic intolerance
Orthostatic intolerance is a subcategory of dysautonomia, a disorder of the autonomic nervous system occurring when an individual stands up....
or dysautonomia
Dysautonomia
Dysautonomia is a broad term that describes any disease or malfunction of the autonomic nervous system. This includes postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome , inappropriate sinus tachycardia , vasovagal syncope, mitral valve prolapse dysautonomia, pure autonomic failure, neurocardiogenic...
, which causes symptoms such as fatigue and loss of balance. Specialists believed that Page had mild episodes of the illness going back twelve years, and that his symptoms worsened after his hernias. It was decided that Page would retire from performing with The Wiggles
The Wiggles
The Wiggles are a children's group formed in Sydney, Australia in 1991. Their original members were Anthony Field, Phillip Wilcher, Murray Cook, Greg Page, and Jeff Fatt. Wilcher left the group after their first album...
to better manage his health. In the months following the announcement of Page's retirement, he received an "overwhelming outpouring of public support". He reported that it took his parents six months to respond to the "mountains of letters, emails and sympathy notes".
Page was succeeded by Sam Moran
Sam Moran
Sam Moran is an Australian entertainer best known for being a member of the children's band The Wiggles. He was born in Sydney and raised in Wagga Wagga.-Career:...
as a full member of the group.
Post-Wiggles
By late 2009, Page had recovered enough from his illness to begin touring with another country rockCountry rock
Country rock is sub-genre of popular music, formed from the fusion of rock with country. The term is generally used to refer to the wave of rock musicians who began to record country-flavored records in the late 1960s and early 1970s, beginning with Bob Dylan and The Byrds; reaching its greatest...
band, but with a more limited schedule than The Wiggles. He had also started his own foundation, the Greg Page Fund, to raise funds and educate the public about orthostatic intolerance
Orthostatic intolerance
Orthostatic intolerance is a subcategory of dysautonomia, a disorder of the autonomic nervous system occurring when an individual stands up....
. In addition, he is a supporter of, and spokesperson for, the Dysautonomia Youth Network of America (DYNA).
Personal life
Page owns the fourth largest collection of Elvis PresleyElvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
memorabilia in the world. His collection includes Elvis' personal and movie clothing, marriage certificate, guitar, piano, the last Cadillac owned by Elvis, and original TCB Band necklaces. In 2008 he decided to donate the collection, reportedly worth $
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
1.5 million, to a new Elvis museum in Parkes, New South Wales
Parkes, New South Wales
- Transport :Parkes has a local bus service provided by Western Road Liners, which acquired Harris Bus Lines in March 2006. The Indian Pacific also stops twice a week, as well as the Broken Hill Outback Xplorer service, run by CountryLink, which heads to Broken Hill on Mondays and Sydney on...
. Some of the collection was lent for display at the 2008 Parkes Elvis Festival.
Page was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia on 26 January 2010 "For service to the arts, particularly children's entertainment, and to the community as a benefactor and supporter of a range of charities".
Solo discography
- Greg Page (1998)
- I Believe in Music (2002)
- Greg Page Live in Concert (2003)
- Throw Your Arms Around Me (2004)
- Taking Care of Country (2005)