The Osmonds
The Osmonds are an American family pop group who achieved success as teenage music idols in the 1970s.
The group originally consisted of brothers Alan Osmond, Wayne Osmond , Merrill Osmond and Jay Osmond. They were later joined by younger siblings Donny Osmond, Marie Osmond and Jimmy Osmond.
Older brothers George Virl Osmond, Jr., and Thomas Rulon Osmond were born deaf and did not appear on any of the records. In 1978, they made their performing debut with their siblings on The Donny & Marie Christmas Special and made occasional appearances from then on.
Career
The Osmonds' career started with a big break at Disneyland, followed quickly by regular appearances on The Andy Williams Show in the early 1960s. In the mid-60s they performed with Sweden's most popular singer Lars Lönndahl, and gained a lot of popularity in Sweden. However, their most successful period was the early and middle 1970s, when they achieved a string of chart hits.
They were joined for a time by younger brothers Donny and Jimmy Osmond. They had a self-titled Rankin/Bass-produced Saturday morning cartoon series on ABC-TV from 1972 to 1973. Donny, and to a lesser extent Jimmy, both achieved success as solo artists, as did their only sister Marie. Marie's signature hit was the country song "Paper Roses" (hence the recurring theme on their variety show where Marie sang, "I'm a little bit country," and Donny responded by singing "and I'm a little bit rock and roll"). Jimmy achieved particular success in the UK and Japan (most notably for his single "Long Haired Lover from Liverpool"), while Donny and Marie's success was nearly worldwide. Donny and Marie also performed as a duo, and hosted their own variety show, Donny & Marie, on ABC from 1976 to 1979.
The Osmonds are of English descent on both their paternal and maternal sides, as well as Welsh descent on their maternal side.
Musical success
The Osmonds' breakthrough U.S. hit, "One Bad Apple", featuring lead vocals by Merrill and Donny. The song spent five weeks at No. 1 in the Billboard Hot 100 in the winter of 1971, and even hit #6 on the R&B chart. The single and the accompanying debut album (called "The Osmonds") were recorded at Muscle Shoals by R&B producer Rick Hall.
The follow-up to "One Bad Apple", "Double Lovin'" stalled at #14, but the mildly psychedelic "Yo-Yo" climbed all the way to #3 in late 1971. "Yo-Yo" marks the point where the brothers began recording as a self-contained rock and roll band (instead of relying on session musicians.)
Their first single release of 1972, "Down By The Lazy River" (written by Alan, Wayne and Merrill) headed to #4 and finally broke the group in the UK, where it peaked at #40. Their British fan base exploded overnight. All members of the Osmond family, counting group and solo recordings, charted an astonishing thirteen singles in the UK charts during 1973.
Their 1972 LP Crazy Horses and its title track were met with mixed critical reaction. The album attempted a more rock-oriented sound and image, its lead track, "Hold Her Tight" bearing a marked similarity to Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song with its churning bass line and wailing guitar breaks. The album, however, was a real testament to the brothers' ability to write and play (they played all the instruments on the album) and featured some serious songwriting, singing and playing chops.
Following quickly on its heels was the ambitious 1973 release, The Plan, perhaps best described as a Mormon concept album with progressive rock aspirations. These albums were followed with gentler, more sentimental songs such as "Let Me In" and "Love Me For A Reason". This music, combined with the brothers' good looks and clean image, greatly appealed to the teenybopper market. Like the word "Beatlemania", a new word, "Osmondmania", was coined to describe the phenomenon.
Instruments
Each brother also played several instruments and sometimes played and composed their own tracks: Merrill (bass, banjo, saxophone), Donny (keyboards, saxophone), Jay (drums, saxophone), Alan (guitar, trumpet, saxophone), Jimmy (drums, piano, trumpet), and Wayne (guitar, clarinet, flute, saxophone).
The Osmonds today
Wayne, Jay, Jimmy, and sometimes Merrill continue to perform as The Osmond Brothers, with frequent appearances in Branson, Missouri, as well as the UK, both as a quartet with Jimmy. Merrill also performs as a solo artist, performing regularly in Branson, Missouri, and Europe. Alan no longer performs, except on very rare occasions, as he suffers from multiple sclerosis (although his Osmond motto is "I may have MS ... but, MS does not have me!"). Today, their sound is more country and western, with a bit of rock and adult contemporary thrown in.
Jimmy performs in Branson and the UK as well, and has become a successful businessman. He appeared in the fifth season of the UK series I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!.
Marie has been a radio host and makes and sells dolls. At the end of March of 2007, it was announced Marie and her second husband, producer Brian Blosil are divorcing after nearly 20 years of marriage.
Donny maintains a successful touring and recording pop career in the UK, and occasionally the United States. He was a theatrical hit, starring for over 2,000 performances in the lead role of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Up through December 2006, he starred as Gaston in the stage production of Beauty and the Beast.
All of the brothers are married with some of them having large families. Alan's eight sons sometimes perform as "The Osmonds - Second Generation" or "2ndG." Due to a resurgence of interest, they toured the UK in 2006.
In August of 2007, the Osmonds performed for their 50th Anniversary in Las Vegas, Nevada.
On October 9, 2007 on The Paul O'Grady Show, Donny Osmond announced that they were getting back together and touring the UK in May 2008.
The Osmonds reunited and performed on Good Morning America on March 14th, 2008 in Orlando, FL, those in attendance included the current Ms. America.
Patriarch George Osmond died at 90 in Salt Lake City on November 6, 2007.
Marie Osmond appeared on ABC's "Dancing With The Stars" in Season Five. She and her dancing partner Jonathan Roberts came in third place.
A special televised concert in Las Vegas commemorating The Osmonds' 50th Anniversary in show business aired on PBS on March 10, 2008. Alan played piano with the orchestra for most of the show and Virl and Tom provided sign language lyrics for two songs. The Osmonds' long-time friend and mentor Andy Williams made a surprise appearance at the beginning of the show, reminiscing of how his father told him to put the brothers on his variety show. Aired during one of PBS' "Pledge Weeks", Donny & Jimmy Osmond made appearances during the pledge breaks on several PBS-affiliated stations.
Discography
This list comprises all of the Osmonds record releases as a pop and country act. It does not contain any special releases, compilations, or other types of releases. Singles have been listed where known.
;Osmonds - 1970
 Label: MGM Records SE-4724
Singles: One Bad Apple (#1 Pop/#6 R&B), Sweet and Innocent (originally billed to the Osmonds)
;Homemade - 1971
Label: MGM Records SE-4770
Singles: Double Lovin', Chilly Winds
;Phase III - 1971
Label: MGM Records SE-4796
Singles: Yo-Yo, Down By The Lazy River
;The Osmonds Live - 1972
Label: MGM Records 2SE-4826
;Crazy Horses - 1972
Label: MGM/Kolob Records SE-4871
Singles: Hold Her Tight, Crazy Horses
;The Plan - 1973
Label: MGM/Kolob Records SE-4902
Singles: Let Me In, Goin' Home
;Love Me For A Reason - 1974
Label: MGM/Kolob Records SE-4939
Singles: Love Me For A Reason, Having A Party
;The Proud One - 1975
Label: MGM/Polydor
Singles: The Proud One, I'm Still Gonna Need You
;Around The World: Live In Concert - 1975
Label: MGM/Kolob Records SE-5012
;Brainstorm - 1976
Label: Polydor/Kolob Records
Singles: I Can't Live A Dream, Back On The Road Again,
;The Osmonds Christmas Album - 1976
Label: Polydor/Kolob Records
;The Osmonds Greatest Hits - 1977
Label: Polydor Records PD-2-9005
The following four albums did not feature Donny
;Steppin' Out - 1979
Label: Mercury SRM-1-3766
Singles: Steppin' Out, Emily, Rainin', I I I
Note: This was their last album as a pop group
;The Osmond Brothers - 1982
Label: Elektra Asylum Records 60180
Singles: Never Ending Song of Love, I Think About Your Lovin'
;One Way Rider - 1984
Label: Warner Bros. Records 1-25070
Singles: She's Ready For Someone To Love Her, Where Does An Angel Go When She Cries, One Way Rider
Singles
1987
"Slow Ride"
In popular culture
An episode of the animated sitcom South Park, I'm a Little Bit Country, is a reference to the Osmonds "I'm a little bit country/I'm al little bit rock 'n' roll routine.
Opus the penguin has at least twice mentioned liking the Osmonds.
External links
www.osmond.com Official Web site
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