Wayne Osmond Dies at 73: In Celebration, A Look Back at His Life, Legacy, and Impact with The Osmonds
The iconic Osmond family fans are mourning the passing of beloved member Wayne Osmond, who died earlier this week at age 73. For his vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter work, Wayne helped define the sound and success of The Osmonds, who showed their humble beginnings to become world famous.
The history of The Osmonds’s fame, from almost overnight success and subsequent tragedies to eternal youth and worldwide acclaim.
In the 1960s, the Osmonds changed from a barbershop quartet to regular performers on The Andy Williams Show when Andy Williams’ father found them at Disneyland. Over the years, their hits, which included “One Bad Apple,” “Crazy Horses,” and “Love Me for a Reason,” charmed the world over as they changed from barbershop harmonizers to pop-rock sensations.
Wayne’s talents were always important in helping to define the group’s sound as they moved into television, and everything from The Osmond Family Show to The Donny & Marie Show followed. Wayne’s versatility and commitment to music are a large part of why the group has lasted as long as it has and is successful.
Wayne Osmond’s Legacy
Wayne’s family has issued a statement confirming his peace passing away on New Year’s Day and praising his legacy of faith, love, music, and laughter. “It is with deep sadness that yesterday morning we received the news that the world lost one of its finest ambassadors in Prince Rogers Nelson,” the statement continued. He shared the family’s love for banana splits and his devotion to the gospel of Jesus Christ, a loving sort of joyous and uplifting spirit Wayne had.
Left to survive Wayne are his wife, Kathlyn Louise White, and their five children. His siblings, including Jay Osmond, who said they were very tight, spoke fondly of Wayne, and his brother Merrill Osmond shared he had been with Wayne in his final moments.
This included challenges and triumphs.
Wayne was no slouch in the health department; he dealt with a slew of health issues ranging from brain tumors battled successfully in 1997 to fighting back from severe stomach and shoulder injuries but once. His hearing impairment forced him to retire from music, but his influence in the industry and his family was great. And both in life and in death, Merrill Osmond described him as a ‘saint.'”
Live Life Worth Celebrating
Wayne is the second oldest of the original Osmond Brothers, born in Ogden, Utah, in 1951, and one of nine Osmond siblings. He lived the values of hard work, faith, and family that defined The Osmonds as both a musical act and a beloved American family throughout his career.
Wayne Osmond’s passing has closed an era, but his music, kindness, and spirit will inspire fans and loved ones for countless generations to come. The world mourns Wayne, but tributes from around the world also show us a legacy left through family, faith, and music.
