A seasonal twist
Chubby Checker coming as summer winds down
Chubby Checker has seen Albuquerque grow over the years.
Going back to one of his first performances in 1962 at the Civic Auditorium with Al Hurricane, the legendary artist recalls how the Duke City grew from a small town to a big city.
“I remember it being one main road with little motels,” he says. “Now it’s an arts hub. Santa Fe and Albuquerque are becoming more connected. It’s still very quiet there compared to bigger cities. I used to love traveling down Route 66.”
Checker will return to Albuquerque to headline the city’s Westside Summerfest on Saturday, Aug.26.
The 75-year-old singer will, of course, bring his No. 1 hit “The Twist.” (The song is the only song to become No. 1 twice — first in 1960 and again in 1962.)
Checker still works on music but is taking a different route now.
“I’m never going to top ‘The Twist,’ ” he says. “So I’ve decided to put Chubby in the corner and start doing some church music. I’ve got some new tunes on iTunes, and it’s just a changing industry.”
To read more about Checker and Summerfest, see Page 12.
School is in session, and the weather is starting to cool off. It’s almost time for annual events like Zozobra in Santa Fe. Though the event takes place on Sept. 1, Zozofest will be held at the Santa Fe Place Mall on Saturday, Aug. 26, and Sunday, Aug. 27. This is an opportunity to see the marionette up close. To read more, see Pages 14-15.
Staff writer Rozanna M. Martinez has the details on two events — Mountainair Sunflower Fest and Mini Maker Fair. To read more, see Pages 21 and 23.
If you’re up for a new band, check out Esso! Afrojam Funkbeat on Sunday, Aug. 27, at Marble Brewery. The Chicago-based band, making its Albuquerque debut, brings a fusion of jazz and more. To read more, see Page 20.
As always, delve deeper into this week’s issue to read movie and dining reviews, which begin on Pages 4 and 16, respectively.