Wayne Osmond, the founder member of U.S. musical family group The Osmonds has died at the age of 73.
Osmond’s daughter, Amy Osmond Cook, announced his death on Thursday, January 2 in a statement posted on her Instagram page. She wrote “Wayne Osmond, beloved husband and father, passed away peacefully last night surrounded by his loving wife and five children.
“His legacy of faith, music, love, and laughter have influenced the lives of many people around the world. He would want everyone to know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true, that families are forever, and that banana splits are the best dessert,” the family added. “We love him and will miss him dearly.”
In a later post, Merrill Osmond confirmed that his brother Wayne died of a massive stroke on New Year’s Day.
“My brother was a saint before he came into this world, and he will leave as an even greater saint than he came in,” Merrill wrote in a Facebook tribute. “I’ve never known a man that had more humility. A man with absolute[ly] no guile. An individual that was quick to forgive and had the ability to show unconditional love to everyone he ever met.”
Donny Osmond, 67, paid tribute to his “dear brother” and said he was grateful to have seen him in hospital before his death.
“Wayne brought so much light, laughter, and love to everyone who knew him, especially me,” he said. “He was the ultimate optimist and was loved by everyone.”
Wayne Osmond was born the fourth of nine siblings on August 28, 1951, in Ogden, Utah. He began to sing as a boy in a barbershop quarter with his older brother Alan and younger brothers Merrill and Jay.
After being discovered at Disneyland, the foursome gained more exposure on ABC’s The Lawrence Welk Show and The Andy Williams Show, adding younger brothers Donny and Jimmy in the process. Wayne primarily provided backing vocals and was a well-rounded musician, playing guitar and bagpipe, among other instruments.
The Osmonds enjoyed considerable commercial success in the 1970s, selling well over 75 million records worldwide. They became defined by tight vocal harmonies and upbeat melodies, with their sound ranging from country and rock to bubblegum pop. They are best remembered for hit singles “Crazy Horses,” “One Bad Apple,” “Down By The Lazy River,” “Love Me For A Reason” and “Let Me In.”
Wayne left The Osmonds in 2007 due to health issues, having been diagnosed with a brain tumor 10 years earlier. He was successful in treating the illness, but it left him with a damaged cochlea, harming his sense of hearing. A stroke in 2012 also left him unable to play guitar.