Alan Osmond performs during The Osmonds' 50th anniversary tour at Wembley Arena on 30 May 2008 in London

The Osmonds star Alan Osmond dies aged 76

· RTE.ie

American musician Alan Osmond, who performed with his brothers in chart-topping pop group The Osmonds, has died aged 76.

Osmond, best known for hits including Crazy Horses, Love Me for a Reason and Let Me In, died on Monday surrounded by his wife, Suzanne and their eight sons, according to a family statement issued to Utah broadcaster KSL-TV.

He had been living with multiple sclerosis since 1987.

Osmond began his career in 1958 when he formed a barbershop quartet with his brothers Wayne, Merrill and Jay. Younger siblings Donny and Jimmy later joined the act, and Donny also went on to enjoy solo success.

The Osmonds performing during the Osmond Family UK TV special in August 1974

The group were discovered by Jay Emerson Williams, father of singer Andy Williams, and in 1962 became regular performers on The Andy Williams Show.

Their appearances on the popular US programme helped make the Osmond Brothers household names, and the family also made guest appearances on western series The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters.

In the 1970s, the group became international stars, selling more than 77 million records worldwide and scoring five UK top 10 singles, including the number one Love Me for a Reason, along with four UK top 10 albums.

The Osmonds: (l-r) Merrill, Jimmy, Donny, Alan, Marie, Jay and Wayne

As the eldest sibling, Alan took a leading creative role as a songwriter and composer, helping to produce some of the group's best-known songs, including One Bad Apple and Down by the Lazy River.

In 1972, a Saturday morning cartoon series titled The Osmonds launched on US network ABC, featuring the family and their music.

Alan and his family appeared in the show until it ended in 1973. It was later followed by a variety series starring his siblings Donny and Marie.

Alan Osmond with his wife Suzanne with six of their sons, Michael Alan, Nathan George, Douglas Kenneth, David Levi, Scott Merrill and Jonathon Pinegar in November 1986.

The family continued performing together until their 50th anniversary in 2007, when Alan and his younger brother Wayne retired due to health issues. Wayne died in January 2025 aged 73.

The Osmonds later reunited in public on occasion, including in October 2019 when they gathered to mark their sister Marie’s 60th birthday.

In 2024, Alan published his memoir, One Way Ticket, about his life in music and his experience of living with multiple sclerosis.

Osmond married his wife Suzanne in 1974, and they had eight sons together.

Source: Press Association