Alan Osmond, the oldest member of the family pop group the Osmonds and a key songwriter behind many of their biggest hits, has died at the age of 76. He had been suffering from multiple sclerosis since the late 1980s.
Early Life and Formation of the Osmonds
Alan was the third of nine children born to George Osmond Sr, a postal worker and World War II veteran, and his wife Olive. The family lived in Ogden, Utah, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). Alan's older brothers Virl and Tom were born with severe hearing impairments. According to the TV film Inside the Osmonds (2001), the group initially performed to raise money for hearing aids for Virl and Tom and to support Mormon church missions.
In 1958, Alan joined his brothers Merrill, Jay, and Wayne to form a barbershop quartet. They performed as the Osmond Brothers at state fairs in Utah before a trip to Disneyland in California led to an audition with Walt Disney. This resulted in a television appearance in 1962 on Disneyland After Dark, an episode of Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color that also featured Bobby Rydell and Louis Armstrong.
Rise to Fame on The Andy Williams Show
Their performance was noticed by Jay Emerson Williams, father of singer Andy Williams, which led to more than 60 appearances on The Andy Williams Show on NBC from 1962. In 1963, six-year-old Donny Osmond made his debut with the group on the show. After a stint on The Jerry Lewis Show in 1968, they returned to Williams's program in 1969. Williams remarked, "They knocked us all out, they were terrific."
Chart Success and Songwriting
As the 1970s approached, the Osmonds' wholesome image seemed outdated, but they scored their first chart-topping hit with One Bad Apple in 1970. The song, written by George Jackson, was reminiscent of the Jackson 5, who had turned it down. The group then focused on their own songwriting, with Alan playing piano and guitar and co-producing and co-writing with Merrill, often collaborating with Wayne and Jay.
Alan co-wrote hits including Down by the Lazy River (No. 4 in 1972), Hold Her Tight, and Crazy Horses, which earned praise from Black Sabbath's Ozzy Osbourne. Both reached the US Top 20, with Crazy Horses peaking at No. 2 in the UK. Further UK successes included Goin' Home (No. 4) and Let Me In (No. 2). In 1974, Love Me for a Reason, written by Johnny Bristol, reached No. 1 in the UK (Boyzone's cover hit No. 2 in 1994).
The Plan and Later Career
The album The Plan (1973) attempted to explore Mormon beliefs, with all songs written by Alan, Merrill, and Wayne. It featured synthesisers and prog-rock elements, but while it produced UK hits, it failed to reach the US Top 50. Alan considered it a magnum opus inspired by the Beatles' White Album.
As the 1970s progressed, Osmondmania waned, and siblings Donny and Marie took the spotlight with solo careers and their TV show. Alan produced the Donny & Marie show from 1976 to 1979. The youngest Osmond, Jimmy, had a UK No. 1 with Long Haired Lover From Liverpool in 1972 at age nine.
Financial Struggles and Comeback
The Osmonds' collective fortune of around $100 million was nearly wiped out by poor business decisions and fraud at the end of the 1970s. Rather than declare bankruptcy, they cleared debts through live performances. In 1982, Alan rejoined Wayne, Merrill, and Jay to form a country music band, scoring US Country hits with I Think About Your Lovin' and It's Like Falling in Love (Over and Over).
Multiple Sclerosis and Farewell
Alan was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1987 but continued performing until 2007, the group's 50th anniversary. In October 2019, he joined the original quartet for a farewell performance on CBS's The Talk, co-hosted by Marie, performing The Last Chapter. In 2024, he published his autobiography, One Way Ticket.
Alan is survived by his wife Suzanne, their eight sons, and his siblings Tom, Virl, Merrill, Jay, Donny, Jimmy, and Marie.
