The Osmonds In Concert At Wembley Arena, London, Britain – 30 May 2008, The Osmonds – Alan Osmond (Photo by Brian Rasic/Getty Images)
Alan Osmond, oldest member of musical family group, the Osmonds, has died at 76.
Osmond died Monday evening at his Utah home alongside his wife and eight sons, according to a family spokesperson who confirmed the news to ABC4 Utah and CBS affiliate KUTV. He had retired from performing years ago after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
As the eldest brother of the family singing group, the Osmonds were teen idols at their peak in the 1960s and 1970s. Younger siblings, Donny and Marie, went on to become the most widely recognized members of the family.
The backstory:
Osmond was born on June 22, 1949, in Ogden, Utah. In the late 1950s, he and three of his siblings began a barbershop quartet that later included two more of his brothers to form the family singing group, the Osmonds.
Legacy and Impact
Throughout most of his career, he led the band’s creative direction, writing, playing piano and guitar. The family toured across the United States and were mainstays on televised variety shows in the 1960s that launched them into the mainstream.
What they’re saying:
Alan’s brother Merrill, posted on social media about his brother’s death, saying he “was blessed to sit quietly with him.”
“My brother has now stepped into the presence of our Father in Heaven with honor and peace,” he said in the post. “His creativity, his vision, and his deep understanding of the Savior’s teachings were simply part of who he was.”
The Source: This story was written with information provided by People and a statement from his family. This story was reported from Orlando.
