Ipage6 ... --.A Selection of the Unusual and Interesting I Sept
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''II ,.,." • , :f 0 .. 0 '~t 0' " .., ... .t '. .. • '. '" ".~ I./i <I.! . ~ ~. , 1 I' + , • • , • I • "t. If .... ~ t .' , • , , " f. ~ IPage6 ..._--.A selection of the unusual and interesting I Sept. 11, 1996 I res by Connie Crawford Assistant Features Editor hite teel~ flash and that Osmond smile melts the hearts of people around the world. Put warmth, W sincerity and extraordinary talent with the smile and a winning combination is born. This close-knit family of eight boys and one girl has been entertaining America for 35 years, and now they're in Branson performing at the Osmond Family Theater. The show involves all the Osmond family at one time or another. The family consists of the Osmond parents, nine chil- dren, 45 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The youngest is Jay's baby son and the oldest is 78-year-old Dad Osmond. Jay's family dog is even in the show. Jimmy, the youngest of the original nine children,is the spokesperson for the Osmonds. "Our church used to get together for family night and we . started singing," Jimmy said. lilt led to the Osmond Brothers." Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay began singing in church in their native town Ogden, Utah, when they were 8, 6, 4 and 2 Above: from left to right are the Osmond brothers years old. Walt Disney discovered them and arranged their first recording groups in history. Alan, Jimmy, Wayne and Jay. television exposure on "Disneyland After Dark." Andy Will- Over 80 million records have been sold, earning the Below: youngest to oldest are the Osmond brothers iams' father saw them and signed them on as regulars on his <?s~onds more than 47 gold and platinum records and other pres- as children starting with Jimmy, then clockwise to Donny, Jay, Wayne, Alan and Merrill. show for seven years. Donny, Jimmy and Marie joined the ngious awards. brothers for a worldwide tour. Other TV programs and motion pictures produced were the Jimmy was 5 years old when he was awarded the "Osmond Family TV Show." "The Donny and Marie Show," an Osrnonds ' first gold record, singing in Japanese. He has also Osmond cartoon series and afil m based on the Osmond family recorded in Swedish and Spanish, has personally been awarded story. six gold records, a platinum record and two gold albums. When They were named number-one new singles group of the year he was 13 years old, his hit "Long Haired Lover From in )982 and nominated Best New Group of the Year. Liverpool" stayed number one on British charts for six weeks. Success in Branson, like the Osmonds' former success, has Inaddition, Jimmy's acting credits include a feature film. been overwhelming. He has had several Sunday morning television specials and a "We have been humbled by the response to our Branson Japanese television series. He is also an accomplished illus- show," Jimmy said. trator who is releasing the first in a series of children's books. The Osmonds put on over 400 shows per year. That means He has been involved in live event production and has worked that 300 to 400 thousand people per year visit the Osmond The- with Michael Jackson and Ringling Brothers' Disney on Ice. ater. In the theater's entrance there are over 100 oil paintings of Legendary people have given the Osmonds good advice stars who appeared on the "Donny and Marie Show." Pictures over the years, but the best advice came from Elvis. Elvis used of the Osmond family through the years are also on display. to call the Osmonds regularly. Their mother reminded Elvis of Jimmy said he wants the audience to feel like they are fam- his mother. ily. The Osmonds include the audience when they can. "Elvis told us not to ever forget our fans, and I have al- HI think we should have respect for each other and accept ways remembered that," Jimmy said. each others' lifestyles," Jimmy said. In Jimmy's opinion, once entertainers forget where they The audience is welcomed from one of three stages in the came from and who put them there, they need to be out of the theater. The performers are younger Osmond kids. Billy and the business. Branson Pickers sing their way into your heart as a baby Osmond Jimmy is the producer of the Osmond Theater. The main s~tson the piano and kicks his chubby legs in time with the mu- brothers tha; are currently performing in Branson are Alan, SIC. Wayne, Jay and Jimmy. The middle stage curtain comes up and the four Osmond brothers sing and harmonize smoothly. Their white jackets, which Elvis told us not to ever forget our are spangled with rhinestones, reflect the light, and a video be- hind them shows the brothers singing and playing as children. fans, and I have always remembered Their voices flow together like they were born to sing with that. each other. With grace and harmony, they don't miss a beat on their moves and the audience is hooked. -Jimmy Osmond The moves are synchronized perfectly, which is a feat in itself considering the Osmond brothers are performing on ice. Alan is the oldest and has always been the group's leader. the 2nd Generation. He is 'actively involved in writing music and has been respon- Metal cleats are on their shoes so they won't slip. They have brought the unusual to Branson, and included in the show is world The youngest Osmond in this group is 13 and the oldest is a sible for many of the group's hits. He has also produced many freshman in college. Like their fathers, this group has a smooth award-winning television programs. In addition, hehas directed class adagio pair skating. A black curtain is scattered with stars, and the skaters waltz voice blend, and they move without missing a step. music videos and film projects. He is the father of eight sons. "Their first album was recorded in Japan," Jimmy said .. Wayne is the Osmonds' "crazy guy." He is an instrumen- to a love song sungby Jimmy. When the Osmonds were children, their theme song was "They are also doing well in Europe." talist and plays the saxophone, guitar, banjo, bass, fiddle, drums, Bob Hope discovered the boys when they were little guys. flute and clarinet. Offstage he is a certified flight instructor "Side By Side." Now the theme song is "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother." These boys come out on stage in dark blue vests with white with a commercial license. Wayne's daughter is a former T-shirts and blue jeans. Like their fathers, they perform on ice. America Junior Miss and plays classical music on her violin. When they were children, as well as now, singing was a natural happening. None of the Osmonds have ever had voice David, 17, loves to sing love ballads, and the girls in the audi- Jay does much of the staging and choreography for the ence love to hear him. production end of the business. He is a world-class drummer lessons. "We never had lessons," Jimmy said. UWetook advice from With one knee on the edge of the stage, he chooses a young and was voted one of the top drummers in the country during lady in the audience and locks his eyes on hers. She is frozen in the '70s. He served as an academic counselor at Brigham Young friends sometimes, but never had any formal lessons." Besides singing, each Osmond plays at least one instrument. enchantment as he sings \I I Can Love You Like That" while the University in Provo, Utah. other three softly blend in. As kids, the brothers recorded their first single record, "Mom used to play the saxophone for a dance band," Jimmy said. "Dad sang in a quartet." Singing and dancing isn't all the 2nd Generation can do. HOne Bad Apple." They started a string of hits that went into They also play instruments, and they deliver many eras and the '70s and '80s and made them one of the most successful Family tradition has been carried on as the Osmond boys Jon, Scott, Nathan, David and Doug, who are all teen-agers, form ,, , , ¥' ,.