‘A Force of Nature:’ Eldest Osmond brother Alan Osmond dies at 76
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- Alan and Suzanne Osmond sit for a portrait at their home in Orem on Friday, June 28, 2013.
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- Alan Osmond with family during the Freedom Festival.
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- Alan and Suzanne Osmond receiving the Pillars of Utah Valley award on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021.
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- The Osmonds, from left, Jay, Jimmy, Merrill, Marie, Donny, Wayne and Alan perform during a taping of their 50th anniversary show at the Orlean’s casino in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007.
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- The original Osmond Brothers, from left, Wayne, Alan, Merrill and Jay in front, as seen on “The Andy Williams Show.”
Alan Osmond, the eldest brother of the famed performing group The Osmonds, died Monday at 76 at his home in Lehi.
He was surrounded by his wife, Suzanne, and their eight sons, according to a statement.
Alan led the musical group that also featured his brothers Wayne, Merrill and Jay. After making their debut on “The Andy Williams Show” in the 1960s, the Ogden natives rose to worldwide stardom in the music industry.
Through the 1970s, The Osmonds frequently topped the charts in the United States and the United Kingdom, performing hit songs such as “One Bad Apple,” “Crazy Horses,” and “Are You Up There.”
In 1971, The Osmonds had more records sold than The Beatles and Elvis, according to longtime publicist Rob Clark. In total, the brothers produced 47 platinum and gold records.
“It was phenomenal what they were able and capable of doing,” Clark told the Daily Herald. “It just seemed like everything they touched was very successful. They became very much in demand. Their fan base increased to young ladies throughout the United States, and then they went overseas, and all of a sudden, the European Isles just exploded for The Osmonds.”
Alan was “a force of nature” who provided guidance to his younger brothers and became the group’s spokesman throughout their success, according to Clark.
“Upon meeting the entertainer, an ever-ready smile was ever prevalent,” he said. “One might feel as though they had known him all their life. Others’ importance seemed to outshine his own, and he especially treasured the countless fans who supported the group.”
Despite reaching global fame, the family never forgot their Utah and Latter-day Saints roots.
In 1977, Church President Spencer W. Kimball called and set apart the Osmond boys as lifelong missionaries for the church. It was a calling Alan held until he died, Clark said.
During press interviews, Clark would turn the time over to Alan, who would introduce the family.
“He would say, ‘As you all know, we’re a family of entertainers, and we’re also members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.’ He was never shy about promoting the church, or the fact that they were from Utah, and how beautiful and wonderful Utah was,” Clark said.
In the 1970s, George and Olive Osmond moved their children back to Utah so they could live in the mountains, date girls from Brigham Young University and have a calmer lifestyle, Clark said.
Alan married Suzanne Pinegar, a BYU cheerleader, in the Provo Utah Temple in 1974. While never forgetting their Ogden roots, the Osmonds developed a love for Utah County, according to Clark. Alan and Suzanne lived in Orem and later moved to Lehi.
Alan became a staple in the Utah County community. Alan and Merrill started the Stadium of Fire fireworks display in 1980 at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo. One of Alan’s favorite Stadium of Fire memories was in the 1990s, when they set the Guinness World Record record for shooting off one million firecrackers.
“The stunt was supposed to take one minute. Instead, the entire lineup of firecrackers went off all at once, which led to dozens of firemen ducking for cover with helmet heat shields being warped. Osmond was delighted with the result,” Clark said.
For their work in the community, Alan and Suzanne received the Pillar of the Valley Award by the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce in 2021.
Alan was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis 40 years ago, forcing him to retire from performing with his brothers. But he remained the group’s leader, Clark said, and maintained a strong outlook on life.
“It was nothing but attitude,” Clark said. “He was determined that while he had the disease, the disease would not have him.”
Alan traveled wherever he needed to get treatment and try different medications. He exercised during the early stages of his disease faithfully, despite dealing with the pain, and never gave up, according to Clark.
“I was speaking with him just weeks ago, and he was getting very, very weak, and he still commented. He says, ‘I’ve got, I’ve got a long fight ahead of me, a long way to go.’ And he says, ‘If I have to, I’ll continue on with my brother Wayne on the other side. We’ve got a lot of work to do, a lot of things happening. And we’ll just keep on moving.’ So he was never going to give up, even after death,” Clark said.
Alan is survived by Suzanne, his eight sons: Michael, Nathan, Doug, David, Scott, Jon, Alex and Tyler; 30 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, and his brothers Virl, Tom, Merrill, Jay, Donny, Jimmy and Marie.
