Wayne Osmond, the next eldest child in the Osmond Brothers cluster of musicians, has died. He was 73.
The baritone-voiced song and guitar, who was the fourth oldest of the nine Osmond children and older sibling to famous trio Donny and , Marie Osmond, “passed away happily” Wednesday surrounded by his family and five children, his daughter , Amy Osmond Cook , said Thursday in a , statement , posted on Facebook. The community also launched a , celebration of life page , on the platform to commemorate the later singer.
” His tradition of devotion, music, love, and laughing have influenced the lives of many people around the world. He may want everyone to understand that the bible of , Jesus Christ , is real, that families are long, and that fruit splits are the best dessert. We love him and will lose him dearly”, his sister’s statement said.
No cause of death was instantly available.
Wayne Osmond, born , Melvin Wayne Osmond , in , Ogden, Utah, on , Aug. 28, 1951, wed , Kathlyn White , in 1974. The multi-instrumentalist had procedure for a brain tumor in 1997, suffered a stroke in 2012 that left him able to play guitar and also was treated for cancer, according to the , Hollywood Reporter. But he reportedly reunited with his sisters in 2019 to , sing with his brothers , for girl Marie’s 60th day.
Reps for Donny and , Marie Osmond , did not immediately comment when contacted Thursday by The , Times.
Brother , Merrill Osmond , said on Facebook that , Wayne Osmond , just had” a large stroke” and that he was being treated at a , Salt Lake City  , doctor. Wayne “endured many” and “gave it his all”, he said, and praised his son’s “genius in his ability to write song” and” capture the hearts of millions of people and bring them closer to God”.
” My brother was a saint before he came into this world, and he will leave as an even greater saint than he came in” , , Merrill Osmond , wrote , Thursday on Facebook. ” I’ve never known a person that had more sincerity. A person with utter no guile. a person who could demonstrate absolute love to anyone he met and was quick to forgive.
There will be a large party beyond all we can imagine for those who are waiting for him on the other side, he added.” His exit from this world will be a terrible time for some,” he added.
Wayne’s younger brother , Jay Osmond , even said Thursday that he was” greatly saddened” by the dying and that” a genuine tale has left the Earth.”
It is said that when we parte during our earthly journey, there is tremendous enjoy, and there is tremendous pain. Out of all of my relatives, I have often felt the most connected to Wayne throughout my career. He was my companion and my friend over the years, “he , wrote , on Twitter.
Jay Osmond , said that when he visited his nephew last month,  , Wayne Osmond , was terrible that he could not longer fly a plane and that” flying brought him peace.”
What brings me joy is knowing that my brother” Wings” has earned his wings, and I can only imagine the heights he is soaring at right now. The reunion he must’ve had with Father and Mother I’m sure was spectacular! “he said.
Family patriarch , George Osmond, a soldier who launched his children’s entertainment careers in the late 1950s, died in 2007. He was predeceased by his wife,  , Olive Osmond, in 2004.
Both husband and wife passed on their affinity for music — George’s as a singer and Olive’s as a saxophone player — to their children and formed the Osmond Brothers troupe with sons Alan, Wayne, and , Jay Osmond. ( The couple’s two eldest sons, Virl and Tom, have degenerative hearing loss that affected their speech. ) George taught the quartet how to sing four-part harmonies as children, and they performed for their , Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints , congregation in , Ogden. In the late 1950s, they also gave performances at fairs and amusement parks.
The family made its way to , Los Angeles , in 1962 to audition for” The Lawrence Welk Show” but didn’t land the gig. As a consolation,  , George Osmond , took the family to , Disneyland. The boys were dressed alike and the barbershop quartet performing on , Main Street , took notice. They were asked to perform a number with the group, and the resultant performance lasted more than an hour. According to , D23, the Osmonds then were brought to the , Disneyland , entertainment office, where they signed their first professional contract.
While they were performing at , Disneyland, the father of singer , Andy Williams  , spotted them and recommended the group to his son, ultimately leading the Osmond Brothers to book a five-year network TV run on” The Andy Williams Show.”
The group added youngest brother , Donny Osmond , in 1963, changing its name to the Osmonds, and appeared on” The Jerry Lewis Show “before signing with a record label. They produced 34 gold and platinum records in the 1960s and ‘ 70s, according to the , Associated Press, including the 1971 chart-topper” One Bad Apple ( Don’t Spoil the Whole Bunch ). ” Their other , Billboard Hot 100 , hits include” Down by the , Lazy River,”” Yo-Yo,”” Love Me for a Reason “and” Crazy Horses.”
Donny and his younger sister Marie also performed together and as a duo to great success in both music and television. Wayne made frequent appearances on the” Donny and Marie “variety show, which ran from 1975 to 1979 and which he also occasionally produced.
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