Wayne Osmond, an original member and second-oldest sibling in the Osmond family of singers, has died at the age of 73.
The singer-guitarist’s death was confirmed by his brother and bandmate Merrill Osmond, who added that Wayne died Wednesday at a Salt Lake City, Utah, hospital following “a massive stroke.”
“I’ve never known a man that had more humility. A man with absolutely no guile. An individual that was quick to forgive and had the ability to show unconditional love to everyone he ever met,” Merrill wrote on Facebook.
“His departure from this earth will be a sad moment for some, but for those who are waiting for him on the other side, there will be a massive celebration beyond anything we can imagine. My brother Wayne endured much. He gave it his all. His legacy will go down as someone who was not only a genius in his ability to write music, but was able to capture the hearts of millions of people and bring them closer to God.”
Wayne — the fourth-oldest of the nine Osmond siblings — along with brothers Merrill, Alan, and Jay, formed barbershop quartet the Osmond Brothers in 1958 after spending their childhood singing at church services in their native Ogden, Utah. The group was joined in the mid-Sixties by younger brother Donny, who with his brothers adopted a bubblegum pop sound by the decade’s end, including Number One single “One Bad Apple” in 1970. A few years later, the group — now The Osmonds — was augmented by siblings Marie and Jimmy.
Wayne remained a member of the Osmonds’ musical unit for nearly a half-century, retiring due to health reasons shortly after the group’s 50th anniversary reunion shows in 2007. Throughout his tenure, Wayne was known for his baritone, and later became the group’s main guitarist when the family adopted a more rock-oriented sound.
Wayne was survived by all of his siblings. The Osmond family added in a statement (via Variety), “[Wayne’s] 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.”