Anthony Field facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anthony Field
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Field in 2018
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Anthony Donald Joseph Field |
| Born | 8 May 1963 Kellyville, New South Wales, Australia |
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| Years active | 1979–present |
| Labels | ABC Music |
Anthony Donald Joseph Field (born on May 8, 1963) is an Australian musician, actor, songwriter, and producer. He is best known as a leader of the popular children's music group, the Wiggles. He was also a member of the pop band the Cockroaches in the 1980s and 1990s.
When he was a teenager, Anthony helped start the Cockroaches with his brothers, Paul and John. The band released two albums and had some success. Anthony even served in the Australian Army for a few years during this time. The Cockroaches later broke up in the late 1980s.
Anthony then went to Macquarie University to study early childhood education. In 1991, he formed the Wiggles with fellow students Murray Cook, Greg Page, and his former bandmate Jeff Fatt. He worked as a preschool teacher for two years. However, the Wiggles became so popular that he decided to focus on children's music full-time.
The Wiggles grew into one of Australia's most successful music groups. Anthony, who wears a blue shirt when performing, was in charge of creating their stage shows, TV programs, albums, and DVDs. He faced some health challenges, including back pain and feelings of sadness, which almost made him leave the group. But he found ways to manage these issues. After Murray, Jeff, and Greg left the group in 2012, Anthony became the only original Wiggle still performing.
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Growing Up and Learning
Anthony Field was born in Kellyville, New South Wales, Australia. He is the youngest of seven children and grew up in Sydney. His family had a strong musical background, especially the women. His great-great aunt, "Queenie Paul", was a famous performer. His grandmother, Kathleen, played music for silent movies. Anthony's mother, Marie, made sure all her children learned to play an instrument.
He went to an all-boys boarding school called St. Joseph's College. In 1979, while at this school, he and his brothers Paul and John started their pop group, the Cockroaches.
Anthony was inspired by his sister Colleen to study early childhood education. He felt that teaching young children was his special calling. He liked the freedom and creativity of teaching, which was very different from his school experience.
He put off university when the Cockroaches became successful. But he felt unhappy with touring and struggled with feelings of sadness. By his mid-twenties, he decided he didn't want to tour anymore. He took two breaks from music. First, he joined the Australian Army from 1982 to 1985. He was a soldier and helped people who were hurt. He also played the bagpipes in parades. He left the army in 1985 and had some back problems from his training. He also traveled around the U.K., listening to different kinds of music, including children's songs.
When the Cockroaches broke up in the early 1990s, Anthony went to Macquarie University. While there, he decided to make an album of children's music. He asked his fellow student and guitarist Murray Cook to help. He also asked Greg Page, who used to work with the Cockroaches, and Jeff Fatt, his bandmate. Another person, Phillip Wilcher, also helped at first but later left the group.
The Cockroaches Band
In 1979, Anthony and his brothers Paul and John formed the pop group the Cockroaches. They were still students at St. Joseph's College.
In 1986, they signed with a record company called Regular Records. They released their first album, The Cockroaches, in 1987. This album became very popular, selling 70,000 copies. Their song "She's the One" was a big hit, reaching number 7 on the music charts.
After the Cockroaches disbanded in the early 1990s, Anthony went to university. There, he started thinking about making music for children.
The Wiggles Group
The Wiggles recorded their first CD in 1991, and it sold 100,000 copies! Anthony worked as a preschool teacher for two years. But the Wiggles became so popular and toured so much that he had to stop teaching.
After their second album, the Wiggles started wearing their famous colored shirts on stage. Anthony wears blue. He said that Murray and Jeff already had red and purple shirts. So, he and Greg raced to see who would get the blue shirt. Greg ended up with yellow, and Anthony chose blue to avoid clashing with Dorothy the Dinosaur.
Each Wiggle developed a special character based on their real actions. This helped young children remember them. Anthony's character was known for eating. He also created and first played Captain Feathersword. Later, Paul Paddick took over the role in 1996. Anthony also played Wags the Dog.
Around 2004, Anthony faced serious health challenges. These were made worse by the Wiggles' busy touring schedule. He thought about leaving the group, even though they were very successful. After meeting a chiropractor in Chicago, Anthony's health improved. He started hiring teams of chiropractors for the Wiggles and their crew in every city they visited. He believes this helped them keep up with their touring.
In early 2013, Anthony became the only original Wiggle left in the group. Jeff, Murray, and Greg retired. Anthony stayed because he wanted to keep educating children.
In July 2020, he and the other original Wiggles appeared in a music video for the band Soul Movers.
Anthony's musical inspirations include Lightning Hopkins, Elvis Presley, and The Rolling Stones. He plays many instruments, like the tin whistle, bagpipes, guitar, drums, trumpet, violin, bouzouki, and didgeridoo. Anthony helped produce most of the Wiggles' music, DVDs, and live shows.
Other Music Projects
In 2018, Anthony Field started a band for adult fans called the Unusual Commoners. He formed it with fellow Wiggles member Lachlan Gillespie and other musicians. They play traditional Australian, Irish, Scottish, and folk songs. They performed their first international show in St. John's, Newfoundland in late 2018.
His Life Outside of Music
In 2003, Anthony married Michaela Patisteas, who used to be a dancer. They have three children. His children have even appeared in some of the Wiggles' TV shows and videos.
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Since 2007, Anthony has done voiceover work for the TV show RSPCA Animal Rescue in Australia. He is also a registered breeder of Miniature Fox Terrier dogs.
Anthony loves competitive sports. He has said that his love for cricket is very strong. He is also a big fan of the Wests Tigers rugby league team. He also enjoys the music of singer Julio Iglesias. As Anthony became fitter, he also became interested in gymnastics and acrobatics.
In 2007, Anthony spoke publicly about his experience with sadness and feeling down. He wanted to help others understand this condition better. He has said that being on the road can be hard for someone who feels this way. But he manages it through healthy eating, exercise, talking about his feelings, and having a good support system. He wrote a book in 2012 called How I Got My Wiggle Back, sharing his health journey.
Anthony is a very religious person. He believes his faith has helped him deal with his health challenges and sadness. He has two large tattoos on his arms. One shows the Virgin Mary with words in Spanish that mean "My life is in your hands." The other has a heart with words that mean "My love, my heart" in Spanish. The names of his wife and children are also tattooed on his arms.
Awards and Recognition
On January 26, 2010, Anthony Field was given the award of Member of the Order of Australia. This award recognized his service to the arts, especially children's entertainment, and his support for many charities.
Images for kids
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Field with his kids
