Storied past

CONCERT: The Osmonds close out Brock University's Centre for the Arts season

Posted By LORI LITTLETON STANDARD STAFF

April 24, 2009

Jay Osmond clearly recalls the first time he was on stage.

And after more than 50 years in the entertainment industry, that's saying something.

"I was 2 1 /2 years old and it was a shock. I was still in diapers," he said, adding he made his debut at a tractor convention.

"Our first job was in 1957 and they decided to put me on stage with my brothers. People started throwing money at me," Osmond said, laughing. "I was picking it up and putting it in my pants and my diaper."

Osmond, 54, has an easy, hearty laugh and it's clear he loves life. He's on the phone from Utah, talking about the Osmonds' -- Jay, and brothers Wayne and Merrill -- April 30 concert at Brock University's Sean O'Sullivan Theatre. The show will close out the Centre for the Arts' 2008-09 season.

When chatting with Jay Osmond, it's hard to talk about the future, because his is a storied past.

The sixth of nine Osmond children, Jay Osmond joined his older brothers Alan, Wayne and Merrill on stage, singing barbershop music in the late 1950s.

"At first, I was just hanging out with my brothers and I didn't know why I had to sing all the time," Osmond said. "But then you learn the importance of discipline around practicing. It was an interesting way to grow up."

The brothers auditioned for the Lawrence Welk show in California, but were turned down. However, they were hired to perform at Disneyland in 1962.

While there, Andy Williams' father saw the quartet and told his son to book them for his television program, The Andy Williams Show. The singing brothers became regulars, joined also by younger brother Donny, as well as sister Marie and brother Jimmy, from 1962 to 1969.

In 1969, the brothers also started performing on the Jerry Lewis Show.

In 1971, the Osmonds released a pop album and the song One Bad Apple soared to No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart, followed by Double Lovin' and Yo-Yo.

The Osmonds then toured all over North America and Europe, where the phenomenon known as Osmondmania was taking place.

"There have been many highlights (during my career), but mostly from meeting people in the business. In 1973 or 1974, Paul McCartney brought his girls to meet us in a hotel. The girls wanted to meet Donny," he said, laughing. "It was a fun time.

"And that's the fun part to this day, saying hi to the fans who have followed us all through the years, and have been fans since the early 1960s.... People around 40 and up remember the brothers pretty well and now they bring their families."

Though the Osmonds became heartthrobs in the early 1970s, they were also talented musicians. On their album Crazy Horse (1972), they played every instrument.

Jay Osmond has spent more than 50 years in show business, and doesn't plan to slow down any time soon The band comprises Alan on rhythm guitar, Wayne on lead guitar, Merrill on lead vocals and bass, Jay on drums and Donny on keyboards. All brothers sang back-up, with Jay and Donny sometimes singing lead parts.

As the brothers' popularity grow, some of the siblings' solo careers also took off. Jimmy Osmond had hits in Japan and England, while Marie became a successful country music singer.

In the early 1980s, the Osmonds changed their musical direction and began singing country music, prompting Billboard Magazine to dub them the Number One New Singles Group of the Year in 1982.

In 1992, Jimmy persuaded his brothers to move to Branson, Mo. They purchased what became the Osmond Family Theatre, where they (to this day) perform for several months at a time annually.

In 2007, the Osmonds, including Donny, Marie and Jimmy, embarked on a world tour to celebrate the family's 50th anniversary in show business. They also recorded a DVD, which originally aired on PBS, entitled Osmonds: Live in Las Vegas -- 50th Anniversary Reunion Concert. For the show, older brothers Virl and Tom, who were born deaf, and Alan, who now has MS, also appeared.

"It's hard to believe it's been 50 years since we started the clock, doing performances," Jay Osmond said. "The amazing thing is we're still friends."

Osmond, who is the father of three sons, Jason, Eric and Marcus, and who just celebrated his 21st wedding anniversary with his wife, Kandilyn, twice considered leaving the music business -- in 1979 when he attended Utah State College, and in 1985, when he went to Brigham Young University.

"But I decided to come back. I missed my brothers and so it was fun to take those little hiatuses," he said.

"We have a good time. It comes really natural to us now. It's like being home, doing shows together."

The Osmonds are coming to Ontario for just three dates. After their show at Brock, they'll play Kitchener's Centre in the Square on May 1, and, as they are Mormons, will participate in a fireside the following day at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kitchener.

Osmond said the forthcoming show at Brock will cover a wide range of the brothers' music throughout the years. While they'll treat the audience to their own hits, they'll also sing some of their other brothers' songs, Osmond said.

There will also be a spot in the show called Through the Years, where little clips from over the years, including the Osmondmania craze in England, will be shown.

"My brother will probably have some jokes up his sleeve," Osmond added. "It's a fun show for all ages."

Osmond said he's looking forward to coming to Ontario -- he loves to tell Canadian jokes, such as, "The last time I was in Canada, I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out" -- because it's where some of the family's most loyal friends and fans are.

"We know a lot of people in the Ontario area and we haven't been back there in a while. It will be fun to see those people again," he said.

When meeting fans, Osmond said, what continues to amaze him is how they have forged friendships with each other because of their mutual interest in the family's music.

"It's like a big extended family of friends. It's interesting to see a lot of the comments we get on our websites. It's fun to look at the comments and to see how maybe we've helped (our fans)," he said. "It's been a wonderful experience. They've made it interesting for us. It's not a one-sided thing. It's a two-way street out there.

"We listen carefully to what they say. It's been a wonderful journey. I don't know how many years we have left, but it's certainly been a great journey."

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WHO: The Osmonds

WHERE: Sean O'Sullivan Theatre, Brock University

WHEN: April 30, 7:30 p. m. TICKETS: $52 to $65

CALL: 905-688-5550 ext. 3257