Wayne Osmond, the singer and musician known for performing alongside his siblings as one of the Osmond Brothers, died Jan. 1 from a stroke. He was 73.
His brother Donny Osmond, who sang alongside him in the group, confirmed the news Thursday on social media and wrote, “Wayne brought so much light, laughter, and love to everyone who knew him, especially me. He was the ultimate optimist and was loved by everyone. I’m sure I speak on behalf of every one of us siblings when I state that we were fortunate to have Wayne as a brother.”
Jay Osmond, who played drums and sang in the group alongside his brothers, also shared a tribute on Instagram. “It is said that where there is great love there is great grief as we part during our earthly journey,” he wrote. “Throughout my life I have always felt most connected to Wayne out of all of my siblings. He was my roommate and my confidant over the decades. What gives me joy is to know that my brother ‘Wings’ has earned his wings and I can only imagine the heights he is soaring right now.”
Merrill Osmond, who sang lead vocals in the group, offered a similar statement on Facebook. “My brother was a saint before he came into this world, and he will leave as an even greater saint than he came in,” he wrote. “I’ve never known a man that had more humility. A man with absolute no guile. An individual that was quick to forgive and had the ability to show unconditional love to everyone he ever met. His departure from this earth will be a sad moment for some, but for those who are waiting for him on the other side, there will be a massive celebration beyond anything we can imagine.”
Born in Ogden, Utah, in 1951, Wayne Osmond began his musical career in a barbershop quartet with his brothers Alan, Jay, and Merrill, performing for the family’s congregation at their local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The brothers were discovered by Andy Williams’ father, Jay Emerson Williams, during a televised Disneyland performance in 1961, and then regularly appeared on The Andy Williams Show as well as the Western program The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters and The Jerry Lewis Show throughout the 1960s.
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After adding brothers Donny and Jimmy to their lineup, the Osmonds performed as a pop group throughout the late ’60s and early ’70s, nabbing a No. 1 hit with “One Bad Apple” in 1971. Wayne, who had perfect pitch, helped arrange the band’s harmonies, and also played lead guitar.
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The Osmonds maintained popularity as they transitioned to writing their own songs and adopting a more rock-oriented sound with albums like Phase III and Crazy Horses. The group also received the Saturday morning cartoon show The Osmonds in 1972. Around the time of the less-successful The Plan in 1973, Donny, Jimmy, and their younger sister, Marie, all began mounting prominent solo careers.
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After working on The Donny & Marie Show in the late ’70s, the original four Osmond Brothers reunited as a country act and performed for most of the 1980s. Though the group eschewed further studio albums for several decades, they continued performing into the 2010s. Wayne eventually retired from the band in 2012, following treatment for a brain tumor that left him deaf. He reunited with the group for one last performance in Honolulu in 2018, then had one more final performance on The Talk in 2019 to celebrate Marie’s birthday.
Osmond is survived by his wife, Kathlyn Louise White; their five children; and his siblings.
