Wayne Osmond, the iconic singer from The Osmonds, has passed away at 73.
His family confirmed the sad news, stating he died on New Year's Day. In a heartfelt statement, they said: "Wayne Osmond, beloved husband and father, passed away peacefully last night surrounded by his loving wife and five children. His legacy of faith, music, love, and laughter have influenced the lives of many people around the world."
"He would want everyone to know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true, that families are forever, and that banana splits are the best dessert. We love him and will miss him dearly," the family expressed to KTVX. Born in Ogden, Utah, in 1951, Wayne joined with his brothers to create a barbershop quartet sensation.
He tied the knot with Kathlyn White, former Miss Davis County Fair and Miss Utah, in 1974, and together they had five children.
In 1997, Wayne faced a health battle with a brain tumour, which was treated but resulted in near-total hearing loss due to cochlear damage. A stroke in 2012 further impacted his musical abilities, preventing him from playing guitar, reports the Mirror.
As the second-oldest member of the original Osmond Brothers and the fourth oldest of the nine Osmond siblings, Wayne was a key figure in the band that found fame in the 70s, comprising brothers Alan, Wayne, Merrill, and Jay.
The Osmonds, originally known as the Osmond Brothers, reached dizzying heights of fame in the 70s, especially between 1971 to 1975 when they became rock sensation teen idols. Donny and Jimmy Osmond later shot to fame as solo stars.
The siblings also found their groove on the telly with the hit variety show 'Donny and Marie', which captivated audiences from 1976 to 1979. As music trends shifted, so did the Osmonds, who saw a revival in the 80s with their country hits.
With more than 77 million records sold worldwide, the iconic quartet marked their 50th year in the biz back in 2007. Health issues led Alan and Wayne to bow out, and after Jimmy's retirement following a stroke in 2018, they were down to a trio.
In an emotional comeback for Marie Osmond's 60th birthday on CBS' The Talk, the original Osmond Brothers gave a heartfelt performance of "The Last Chapter" – a farewell hit penned in 2018. Wrapping up an epic 11-year stint in Vegas, Donny and Marie took their final bow in 2019.
In 2022, Merrill decided to hang up his boots to focus on a church mission, leaving Jay as the only original member still gracing the stage. Donny, however, continues to entertain audiences as a solo act, and in recent years, Alan's sons have joined their uncles for some performances.
:quality(85):upscale()/2024/04/24/878/n/3019466/36c5693c662965c5d1ce91.72473705_.jpg)
English (US) ·