Wayne Osmond, singer and member of The Osmonds, dies at 73
Share and Follow


Wayne Osmond was the fourth oldest of nine children and a founding member of the million-selling family act The Osmonds.

NEW YORK — Wayne Osmond, a singer, guitarist and founding member of the million-selling family act The Osmonds, who were known for such 1970s teen hits as “One Bad Apple,” “Yo-Yo” and “Down By the Lazy River,” has died. He was 73.

Sibling Merrill Osmond posted on his Facebook page that Wayne died this week at a Salt Lake City hospital after suffering a “massive stroke.”

“I’ve never known a man that had more humility. A man with absolutely no guile,” Merrill wrote. “An individual that was quick to forgive and had the ability to show unconditional love to everyone he ever met.”

Wayne Osmond was the fourth oldest of nine children raised in a Mormon household in Ogden, Utah, and the second oldest among the musical performers. The siblings’ career began in the 1950s when Wayne, Alan, Merrill and Jay sang as a barbershop quartet.

Their popularity grew in the 1960s after being supported by singer Andy Williams, and they peaked as a quintet in the early 1970s, with younger brother Donny Osmond the breakout star. “One Bad Apple” and other songs were often compared to the music of The Osmonds’ contemporaries, the Jackson 5, and Donny was positioned as the white counterpart to the Jacksons’ lead singer, Michael Jackson.

The Osmonds’ popularity faded by the mid-1970s, although Donny and Marie Osmond both enjoyed successful careers as solo performers and as a brother-sister duo.

In the 1980s, Wayne Osmond regrouped with Alan, Merrill and Jay as a country act and had a handful of hits, including “I Think About Your Lovin.’”

But in the mid-1990s he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and lost much of his hearing from the surgery and treatment. A stroke in 2012 left him unable to play guitar.

“I’ve had a wonderful life. And you know, being able to hear is not all that it’s cracked up to be, it really isn’t,” he told the Deseret News in 2018. “My favorite thing now is to take care of my yard. I turn my hearing aids off, deaf as a doorknob, tune everything out, it’s really joyful.”

Wayne Osmond married Kathlyn White in 1974. They had five children.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Trish Stratus at 50: WWE legend strips down for racy FHM shoot

WWE Icon Trish Stratus Stuns in Bold FHM Photo Shoot at 50

Celebrated WWE icon Trish Stratus recently celebrated her 50th birthday with a…
Proposed AI ‘Bill of Rights’ filed in Florida Senate with support from Governor DeSantis

Florida Senate Introduces AI ‘Bill of Rights’ with Governor DeSantis’ Backing

A Senate Republican has introduced SB 482, a legislative measure designed to…
Swimmer vanishes after possible shark encounter off California coast during group outing

Swimmer Disappears Following Suspected Shark Encounter on California Beach Outing

A woman who disappeared while swimming on Sunday is believed to have…
With FDA approval of Wegovy pill, new era of oral GLP-1 weight loss drugs begins

FDA Greenlights Wegovy Pill: A New Chapter for Oral GLP-1 Weight Loss Solutions Begins

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given the green light to…
Mica Miller case: South Carolina pastor charged with allegedly cyberstalking wife for years before her death

Shocking Revelations: South Carolina Pastor Accused of Years-Long Cyberstalking in Wife’s Tragic Case

Please be advised that this article contains discussions on suicide. If you…
Chiefs announce they are moving to new stadium in 2031

Kansas City Chiefs Plan Exciting Move to New Stadium by 2031

The Kansas City Chiefs have unveiled plans to relocate from their long-standing…
Once-thriving shopping mall is eerily empty on Sunday before Christmas

Deserted Mall: A Surprising Sight Just Days Before Christmas

In a stark contrast to its bustling past, a once-celebrated shopping mall…
Multiple people, including pregnant woman, struck by alleged drunk driver at Navajo Nation Christmas parade

Tragedy Strikes Navajo Nation: Pregnant Woman Among Victims of Alleged DUI at Christmas Parade

Authorities reported that a suspected intoxicated driver collided with several individuals at…