Alan Osmond, the oldest brother and a driving force behind the legendary family band The Osmonds, has died at the age of 76.
The heartbreaking news was confirmed by the Osmond family in a statement to KSLTV. Alan passed away surrounded by those who mattered most, his wife, Suzanne, and their eight sons were all by his side in his final moments.
The family has not disclose a cause of death.
Alan’s story is deeply woven into the rise of one of America’s most iconic musical families. Born in 1949, he was the eldest of the Osmond siblings who performed, as the two oldest brothers, Virl and Tom, were hearing impaired and did not sing.
Public Domain
Alan began performing at just 12 years old, originally singing in a barbershop quartet with his brothers Wayne, Merrill, and Jay.
As the group evolved, younger brothers Donny and Jimmy joined in, while sister Marie later carried the family legacy forward alongside Donny in a successful TV and stage career.
Known as the “One Take Osmonds,” the group became famous for getting their performances right almost instantly — a skill they had to master because of strict child labor laws limiting how long they could work.
“We could only work so many hours a day,” Alan Osmond once recalled, “so we’d take the work home and make sure we nailed it on the first take.”
Musician and guitarist Alan Osmond performs live on stage with American family pop group The Osmonds on the British leg of their European tour, October 1973. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images)
Behind the scenes, Alan was much more than a performer. He played a key role in shaping the group’s sound, co-writing major hits like “One Bad Apple” and the bold, critically praised “Crazy Horses.” The Osmonds’ big break came after appearances on The Andy Williams Show, which launched them into global stardom.
In 1987, Alan was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a condition he lived with for decades with remarkable strength. He mostly stopped performing with the group after 2007.
Like the rest of his family, Alan Osmond was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In the late 1960s, he also served his country, enlisting in the California Army National Guard. Stationed at Fort Ord, he worked as a clerk in the 144th artillery unit. During his time in the military, he even earned the nickname “the Mormon Dream,” a nod to both his faith and reputation.
Alan Osmond married Suzanne Pinegar in 1974, and the couple built a big, close-knit family together, raising eight sons.
Alan Osmond attends a ceremony where his brother and sister Donny and Marie Osmond receive a star on the Las Vegas strip following more than 1,700 performances at the Flamingo Las Vegas on October 04, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Denise Truscello/WireImage)
He is survived by his wife, their sons, 30 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren— leaving behind not only a devoted family but also a lasting musical legacy that shaped an entire generation. RIP, Alan and thanks for all the memories and music!
