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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZOSMONDS, TheMormon children taught music by their parents: Alan (b 22 June '49), Wayne (b 28 Aug. '51), Merrill (b 30 April '53), Jay (b 2 March '55), Donny (b Donald Clark Osmond, 9 Dec. '57), Marie (b 13 Oct. '59), all from Ogden, Utah except Jimmy (b 16 April '63, Canoga Park CA). The four oldest visited Disneyland '62 wearing identical suits and sang barbershop harmony; recommended to Andy Williams by his father, they were regulars on his TV show for four years; also appeared on the Jerry Lewis TV show, toured with Pat Boone, etc. The five oldest had eleven hit singles and twelve hit LPs '71--8 in USA, joined towards the end by the two youngest. Donny was the darling of the teenyboppers, with 15 hit singles, ten LPs; Donny and Marie had their own TV show '76--8, had seven hit duet singles, six chart LPs; Jimmy had a successful solo career for about a year when he was nine (particularly popular in Japan). Their live act caused hysteria among teenyboppers; they were said to have sold more pictures of themselves than records; when they were too old for that they disappeared from the pop charts, but the brothers were still working, had minor country hit 'Any Time' '85. 'Merrill and Jessica' (Boucher) cut country duet 'You're Here To Remember, I'm Here To Forget' '87. Donny and Marie did TV adverts for Hawaiian Punch early '80s; he starred in revival of George M. Cohan show Little Johnny Jones '82 (closed after one night); he was making an album '87 with African prod. George Acogny, his first for nearly ten years. Marie made debut at age three on Andy Williams show, published Marie Osmond's Guide To Beauty And Dating late '70s, wed basketball star Steve Craig '82, divorced '85; remains successful in country charts: had no. 1 country hit '73 (top five pop) with 'Paper Roses' (first published '60, hit by Anita Bryant; nom. for a Grammy as Best Country Song '74); of her four solo chart LPs '73--7 three were prod. by Sonny James; duet with Dan Seals '85 'Meet Me In Montana' was no. 1; LPs There's No Stopping Your Heart '85, I Only Wanted You '86 both charted well, both had hit title singles, followed by All In Love '88, Steppin' Stone '89. |