Your Place For All Things Osmond

About

During the 1960’s, 1970’s & early 80’s, the Osmonds seemed to be everywhere. They have sold over 1 million albums. They hold the record for selling 11 Gold & Platinum records in one year! In 1962, they started out as a barbershop quartet called The Osmond Brothers. Alan (12), Wayne (10), Merrill (8) & Jay (6) auditioned for Walt Disney. He loved them and put them on one of his TV programs called Disneyland Afterdark, where they performed a song called Side by Side. Andy Williams’ father saw the Osmond Brothers on TV and loved what he saw. The boys reminded him of his sons, The Williams Brothers, when they were that age. During this time, his son Andy Williams had his own show so he asked Andy if he would put the Osmond Brothers on the show. Andy put them on the show as suggested. After that performance, Andy received a lot of mail requesting the boys return. Andy ended up keeping the boys on as regulars. They stayed on Andy’s show from 1964 - 1969. During this time, they were joined by Donny (aged 5), becoming a group of 5 members. Jimmy & Marie also made their debuts on the show. Both at 3 years of age. While they were with Andy Williams, the Osmond Brothers toured all over Europe. They were most popular in Sweden & Japan. In 1968, Jimmy was the first to have a number one hit in Japan with a song called, My Little Darling. He was 5 years old! Jimmy is also in the Guinness Book of Records for being the youngest performer to have a #1 hit in the UK with the song, Long Haired Lover From Liverpool, released in 1972. He has six gold records, one platinum record and two gold albums. In 1969, the Osmond Brothers wanted to go pop. In 1971, they hit #1 on the pop charts with One Bad Apple. From then on it was a wild ride! They had other hits with Double Lovin’(#14), Yo-Yo (#3), Down By The Lazy River (#4), Crazy Horses (#14), Hold Her Tight (#14) and more. In 1975, they won the very first Peoples Choice Award for Favorite Band. In 1973, the Osmonds had 13 singles on the UK charts! Donny released his first solo album in 1971 and had hits like Sweet & Innocent, which went to #7, Go Away Little Girl (#1), I Knew You When (#9) & Puppy Love (#3). Marie released her first album in 1973 & had a hit with Paper Roses (#1), There’s No Stopping Your Heart (#1), Meet Me In Montana (#1) and more. In 1973, Donny & Marie teamed up and began recording together. Donny still performed & recorded with his brothers and both he and Marie still performed & recorded as solo acts. In 1975, Donny & Marie had their own TV special which was a hit. So, in January of 1976, the show became a weekly variety show. It ran from 1976 - 1979. In 1979, the Donny & Marie Show morphed into the Osmond Family Show and aired 10 episodes. In 1980, Marie had a short-lived variety show called "Marie" which aired 7 episodes.

Today: Jay Osmond has written a musical called, "The Osmonds: A New Musical", which was a huge success in the UK. There are plans to bring the musical to the US & Canada. Dates are unknown at this time. Currently he is doing some shows in the UK. Donny currently has a residency in Vegas at Harrahs. At the end of 2024 he will be heading to the UK to perform as Pharoah in Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Marie has also toured the US in shows, but is currently taking time off to spend with family. Merrill just completed a 1 year mission with his wife Mary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Washington DC. He is writing a book on his life which we hope to see released soon. Once the book is released, he will be doing some book signings. He also has plans to do two Serenity events. One in Utah and the other in England. He also announced that he will be doing a series of podcasts called ‘Conversations with Merrill Osmond’ starting in June 2024. Click here to subscribe. Alan has released his autobiagraphy "One Way Ticket". So many fun things happening! Wayne & Jimmy have either retired or stopped performing due to medical reasons.