The Osmonds singer Wayne Osmond has died at the age of 73 as his family issued an emotional statement where they said they ‘love him and will miss him dearly’

The Osmonds singer Wayne Osmond has died
The Osmonds singer Wayne Osmond has died

Singer Wayne Osmond has died at the age of 73.

The Osmonds star’s family has confirmed he died on New Year’s Day. “Wayne Osmond, beloved husband and father, passed away peacefully last night surrounded by his loving wife and five children,” the family said in a statement. “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. We love him and will miss him dearly,” they told KTVX. Wayne was born and raised in 1951 in Ogden, Utah. He went on to join forces with his brothers to form the barbershop quartet.

He was married former Miss Davis County Fair and Miss Utah Kathlyn White in 1974 and the pair went on to have five children. In 1997, Wayne was diagnosed with a brain tumour, which was treated successfully at the expense of his hearing. The treatment damaged his cochlea, leaving Wayne nearly deaf.

The singer had a stroke in 2012, which left him unable to play the guitar. Wayne was the second-oldest member of the original Osmond Brothers singers and the fourth oldest of the nine Osmond children. The Osmonds had success in the 1970s and initially consisted of brothers Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay.

Wayne Osmond
Wayne Osmond has died age 73

Wayne OSMOND,
His health meant he had to leave the band
They were later joined by younger siblings Donny and Jimmy, both of whom enjoyed success as solo artists. The group had been known as the Osmond Brothers, yet with Donny’s arrival they changed to the Osmonds. They become teen idols and had a peak as a rock band from 1971 to 1975.

Their sister Marie had a successful solo career and worked as Donny’s duet partner. In 1976, the group was no longer having as much success with their singles and so transitioned into television with Donny & Marie, a popular variety show that ran until 1979. By the 1980s, the Osmond Brothers decided to have a revival.

They reached moderate success with country music. Overall, the Osmonds have sold over 77 million records worldwide. The quartet continued to perform through their 50th anniversary in 2007, at which point Alan and later Wayne retired due to health issues. Jimmy was recruited after Alan’s retirement, with the group performing as a trio until Jimmy suffered a stroke and retired in 2018.

A year later, the original Osmond Brothers quartet reunited for CBS’ The Talk for their sister Marie’s 60th birthday. It was billed as the last appearance for the lineup and they performed “The Last Chapter”, written as a farewell song and introduced in 2018. Donny & Marie ended an 11-year Las Vegas residency in 2019.

Merrill announced his retirement in 2022 to pursue a church mission, leaving Jay as the last remaining member of the original quartet still performing. Donny continues to perform as a solo artist and in later years, Alan’s sons have made appearances with their uncles.