The founder of the Osmond Singing Group was 73

On By Littum

Wayne Osmond, an original member of the Osmonds singing group, has died. He was 73.

“My dear brother Wayne passed away peacefully last night from a stroke. I’m so thankful I had the opportunity to visit him in the hospital before he passed,” Donny Osmond wrote on Instagram. “Wayne brought so much light, laughter and love to all who knew him, especially me. He was the ultimate optimist and was loved by all.”

“I’m sure I speak for each and every one of us siblings when I say we were lucky to have Wayne as a brother,” Donny added. “Although we are separated in this earthly life, I know that by the grace and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we will have the opportunity to be with Wayne forever.”

Born August 28, 1951 in Ogden, Utah, Wayne Osmond was the fourth oldest of nine Osmond children and an original member of The Osmonds singing group (which consisted of siblings Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay Osmond). Donny Osmond later joined and the group skyrocketed to fame in the 1970s.

In the beginning, in 1958, the brothers began singing as a barbershop quartet. They were discovered in 1961 by Jay Emerson Williams, father of Andy Williams, at a performance at Disneyland and began appearing on NBC’s musical variety theme The Andy Williams Show.

The brothers also appeared together on a recurring basis opposite then 12-year-old Kurt Russell in the 1963-64 primetime ABC western, Jaimie McPheeter’s Travels. Wayne played the young Leviticus Kissel.

In the 1970s, Wayne and his brothers were frequent guests on the ABC primetime variety hour Donny and Mariehosted by siblings Donny and Marie Osmond. Midway through the fourth season, the show was given a new title The Osmond family show.

In the 1980s, Wayne returned 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. A stroke in 2012 left him unable to play the guitar.

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

“I find it hard to express the depth of my sadness that I will not have my ‘twin’ in my life for a while,” Wayne’s daughter Amy wrote on Facebook. “But I am so grateful for the time I was able to spend with him. I am grateful for the incredible memories. I am grateful for his strength, loyalty to our family, incredible talent and energy, and most of all everything, his love. I look forward to the day I can see him again on the other side, I love you dad.”