Alan Osmond Passed Away On Monday, April 20
Alan Osmond, the oldest member of the famous family musical group The Osmonds, has died.
An Osmond family spokesperson confirmed the heartbreaking news in a statement sent to the Utah-based ABC affiliate ABC 4. The statement shared that Alan passed away at 8:30 PM on Monday, April 20. He was 76 years old.
Alan’s wife, Suzanne, and their eight children were by his side when he died.
Alan’s passing comes just a little over a year after the death of his younger brother and fellow Osmonds member, Wayne.
According to the family spokesperson, Alan was eager to be reunited with Wayne. He once said, “We still have a lot of work to do together- there is much catching up to keep us busy for a very long time.”
The spokesperson did not reveal Alan’s exact cause of death. However, he had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1987, which led to his retirement from performing.
Alan’s survivors include his wife of 51 years, Suzanne, and their sons: Michael, Nathan, Doug, David, Scott, Jon, Alex, and Tyler. KUTV, another Utah-based outlet, reports that he’s also survived by 30 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
A Look Back At Alan Osmond’s Life And Career
Alan Ralph Osmond was born on June 22, 1949, in Ogden, Utah. In 1958, Alan and his brothers, Wayne, Merrill, and Jay, formed a barbershop quartet called The Osmond Brothers.
As the eldest brother, Alan served as the group’s creative leader and co-wrote many of their songs.
During a trip to Disneyland, The Osmonds were discovered by the theme park’s Director of Entertainment and Customer Relations, Tommy Walker. Tommy came across the brothers singing with the park’s Dapper Dans and hired them to perform in the park as well.
The group also appeared on Disneyland After Dark, which caught the attention of Andy Williams’ father, Jay. The elder Williams convinced his son to book the group on The Andy Williams Show. The Osmond Brothers performed on the program from 1962 to 1967.
Younger brother Donny eventually joined the Osmonds, making them a quintet. Each of the members became teen idols and heartthrobs.
Alan’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 1987 forced him to retire from full-time performing. But he still made occasional appearances onstage and sang for his younger sister, Marie, at her 60th birthday celebration in 2019.
Outside of music, Alan played an instrumental role in starting the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon. ABC 4 details how the telethon has raised over $2 billion to help support children’s hospitals. He also founded the One Heart Foundation, which helps support orphans.
Merrill Osmond Shares Statement About His Brother’s Death
Alan’s younger brother, Merrill, shared additional confirmation of his death. He provided a statement to PEOPLE, which reads:
“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of my beloved brother, Alan Osmond. I was grateful to be with him shortly before he passed and to share a final meaningful moment together. Alan was a gifted creator, a man of faith, and a deeply loving soul whose life blessed many.”
Merrill continued to say, “Our family is thankful for the outpouring of love and prayers. We will honor his memory and the message he cared so deeply about. He will be missed beyond words.“
Merrill also shared an emotional tribute to Alan on Facebook. He wrote about one of their last conversations, saying:
“In a tender moment I will never forget, he leaned close and whispered something into my ear. He said, ‘Merrill, you and I worked side by side. We created, we produced, we directed… we gave our hearts to The Plan with Wayne. Please… do something with it. Let people know what we were trying to say.’ I want you to know, his request will be honored.”
Merrill recalled asking Alan to give his late son, Troy, a big hug from him when he met him in heaven. Alan promised he would.
