Alan Osmond has died at the age of 76, the famous family has said.
Alan was the guitarist and oldest member of the popular The Osmonds family band, which found fame when the brothers were just children in the 1970s.
His death was first reported by local media in Utah, with a family spokesperson saying Alan died with his wife and their eight sons at his bedside in his home city of Orem, near Salt Lake City.
Alan was his parents George and Olive’s third-born child and his two older brothers, Virl and Tom, were born with severe hearing impairments.
He first performed on The Andy Williams Show when he was just 12 years old as part of a quartet with his younger brothers Wayne, Merrill and Jay.
Donny and Jimmy later joined the group and they fast became teen heartthrobs, releasing tracks including “One Bad Apple”, “Crazy Horses” and “Love Me For A Reason”, which was originally a track by US musician Johnny Bristol and later covered by Boyzone.
Their sister Marie also found fame as a solo artist and later formed a double act with Donny.
The siblings performed together right up until their 50th anniversary in 2007, when Alan and Wayne – who died in January last year, aged 73 – retired due to health issues.
Salt Lake City outlet Fox13 reports that an obituary from the Osmond family says Alan was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis forty years ago, which eventually prompted his decision to quit performing.
Tributes have poured in online with one fan writing: “Such a sad loss. Alan Osmond was a true legend of the 70s music scene and a huge part of the Osmonds’ enduring legacy. His talent and spirit will never be forgotten. My thoughts are with his family and fans.”
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“He was not only a performer but also a guiding force behind the group’s discipline and identity,” another wrote. “Even after stepping back due to multiple sclerosis, his influence shaped the family’s music and message for decades.”
Alan is survived by his wife Suzanne, their eight sons, 30 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, and his siblings, Virl, Tom, Merrill, Jay, Donny, Jimmy, and Marie.
