Wayne Osmond of Family Singing Group, the Osmonds, Dies
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Wayne Osmond, who with three of his brothers formed the musical singing group the Osmonds in the late ’50s and catapulted to fame when they were joined by younger siblings Donny and Jimmy on the 1971 hit “One Bad Apple,” died on January 1, 2025. His death at age 73 at a Salt Lake City hospital was announced by his brother, Merrill, who said Wayne had suffered a massive stroke.
“I’ve never known a man that had more humility,” Merrill wrote of Wayne. “A man with absolute no guile. An individual that was quick to forgive and had the ability to show unconditional love to everyone he ever met.
“His departure from this earth will be a sad moment for some, but for those who are waiting for him on the other side, there will be a massive celebration beyond anything we can imagine.”
Brother Donny wrote, “I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to visit [Wayne] in the hospital before he passed. Wayne brought so much light, laughter, and love to everyone who knew him, especially me. He was the ultimate optimist and was loved by everyone.”
Melvin Wayne Osmond was born on August 28, 1951, in Ogden, Utah, the fourth of nine children. In 1958, Wayne, Alan, Merrill and Jay began performing as a barbershop quartet. In 1962, one year after being discovered at Disneyland by the father of entertainer Andy Williams, the quartet made their first appearance on the television variety program The Andy Williams Show. The quartet soon became a quintet when younger brother Donny joined.
They recorded several singles but it wasn’t until the November 1970 release of “One Bad Apple”—with lead vocals by Merrill and Donny—that any charted. The song debuted on the Hot 100 on Jan. 2, 1971, and by Feb. 13 it had reached #1, spending five weeks at the top. The song’s author says he wrote it with the Jackson 5 in mind.
Comparisons with the Jackson 5 were inevitable. Both musical groups solely comprised siblings and their eras coincided. The Osmonds hailed from Utah and were members of the Mormon Church. The Jackson 5 were from Gary, Indiana, and managed by their strict father, Joe Jackson. Despite their acclaim, however, the Osmonds—often billed as the Osmond Brothers—would only earn three additional top 10 singles, though they did earn five consecutive Gold albums from 1970-1972. The Jackson 5 became part of the Motown galaxy of stars with 17 Top 40 singles in five years.
On January 6, 2025, the Jacksons posted a tribute to Wayne Osmond. “As we continue to mourn the passing of our dear brother, Tito, we would like to take a moment to send our love and thoughts to another brotherhood, The Osmonds, following the passing of Wayne. We have fond memories of the days when The Jacksons and The Osmonds shared a special era in music. We will always hold dear the occasions we spent together. Our hearts go out to the Osmond family at this terribly difficult time. Rest in Peace, Wayne. May God be with you — Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, and Randy.”
Merrill Osmond replied, “To our dear friends, The Jacksons, we so much appreciate your comments regarding our brother Wayne,” he wrote. “We also send our condolences to your family regarding Tito. We will miss them both dearly. Our two families have been friends for a very long time. Both of us have given our all throughout the years as we maneuvered through the 70s and 80s. The Osmonds have always felt there was a lot in common between the Jackson family and the Osmond family. It is our sincere hope that our music, along with the Jacksons, will continue to live on for decades to come.”
Donny became a star solo attraction with another five smash hits within a two-year period, including “Go Away Little Girl.” He was also paired on duets with younger sister Marie.
The Osmonds eventually began writing and performing their own music with Wayne on lead guitar, older brother Alan on rhythm guitar, Merrill on lead vocals and bass, Jay on drums and Donny on keyboards, with all of them singing backup vocals. Jimmy, the youngest, had departed the group for a solo career in 1972.
Watch the Osmonds perform on The Cher Show in 1975
In 1997, Wayne Osmond was diagnosed with a brain tumor. It was successfully treated but it led to a loss of hearing. He was the first of the musical siblings to pass. Merrill Osmond’s website notes that no other recording artists earned as many gold records in one year as the Osmond family.
I was saddened to hear of Wayne Osmond’s passing. Wayne and his brothers are a talented lot and their performances were electric. Having them join me on stage twice a night was a thrill I’ll never forget. My heart goes out to his wife Kathlyn and their children as well as the… pic.twitter.com/VM8MBLOW0Q
— Nancy Sinatra (@NancySinatra) January 2, 2025
From the Cowsills: “The Cowsills send our heartfelt condolences to The Osmonds for the loss of their brother, Wayne. If not for Wayne Osmond and his brothers performing regularly on “The Andy Williams Show” there may have never been a family band called The Cowsills.
“We watched The Osmonds all through those early years and because of them developed our own true sense of harmony and singing with your family. Wayne was an integral part of their legacy and we will always be grateful for his and his family’s impact on our lives and on the world in general.”
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2 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationAnother bit of the soundtrack of my youth gone. Music was a door to the world, and Wayne was part of my musical salvation. Godspeed, Wayne.
The Osmonds and Cher. THERE’S a combo for you.
The J5 passed on “One Bad Apple” the way the Beatles passed on “How Do You Do It”. Obviously great tunes. Just not right for THEM.