How did the shows in Vegas celebrating The Osmonds' 50th anniversary compare to the shows in the 70s? Did you feel the same “feeling” you did back then, and is it a feeling you still often experience or was it different?

It was like going back in time. Such great and happy feelings! I also felt like we were at a family reunion.

Which was the first Osmond song recorded with you on drums?

I first recorded my drums on the song "Yo Yo" in Alabama.  Rick Hall (our producer) heard the brothers and me jamming on this new song on a lunch break.  He wanted to put us on tape playing the basic track so his band could hear how "funky" they needed to play it.  Sure enough, he used our version on the bass, drums and guitar, instead of his band. Then he brought in trumpets afterwards.

Were there any of your songs that you felt were particularly challenging to play?

"The Last Days" on The Plan album. For some reason, that was one of the most difficult songs. The take we used is the one that I broke a stick on. If you listen carefully, you can also hear where I clicked the stick on the rim, and then I dropped it.

How did your parents respond to the fan hysteria that surrounded all of you in the early seventies? Did they like it, or did it make them feel uneasy in some ways?

All I know is that they were pretty hip parents.  They loved the way the fans responded to our music, and made sure that we grew up appreciating what was happening to us at the time.

Did you and your brothers ever imagine that your success would have lasted this long?
And, did you ever have discussions with your brothers about what you would do if you weren't able to stay in the music industry?

Absolutely! We never imagined it would take us this far.  We have had many talks over the years about what we would each probably do if this crazy career came to an end. I still remember my first (traumatic) show. I (of course) was just a novelty at age two and a half. When people started throwing money at me, I thought they were mad at first, but then realized that they were groovin’ on this singing stuff!  Our first professional show was a convention at Wheeler Machinery in Salt Lake City in 1957. We actually got paid!

Do you have any memories during the 70s of what you thought you would be doing all these years later?

Yes, but I had no idea showbiz would last this long. I was planning on getting involved in education, and then eventually teaching. In 1985, I really thought it was over; that's why I started working with BYU. However, when Branson came along, I knew the end was nowhere near.

Back in the 70s, where did you spend Christmas? Did you all try to be back in Utah, or were there Christmases when you were away from home. What was your most treasured Christmas present from your parents?

There were only two Christmases I can remember that were away from home. One was in Japan. We spent the whole day at NHK television studios, doing a comedy special in a jail set piece.

The next was in Hollywood, Florida, at the Diplomat Hotel. This was where the story comes from, where Merrill talks about girls throwing down ropes onto our balcony.

The most prized gift from my parents were all the photos and film they took of us.

What was the scariest incident, and what was the most exciting time?

I think the scariest incident was when we were living in California. Father, Mother, Virl and Tom were out late. Merrill, Donny, Marie and little Jimmy were in the house. Alan, Wayne and I were in the big trailer in the lot behind the house. Merrill told me later that he noticed the window in the front room was slowly being opened from the outside and some shadows appeared. Then, the the back door knob, which was locked, started to be wrestled with from outside. Merrill slowly got a knife and told the  kids to stay down. Right after they said a prayer, the phone rang. It was Father, letting them know that they were on their way home. Merrill quietly told him what was happening, and asked for instructions. They then all jumped up, turned on all the lights, Merrill called the police, checked the doors, and they all started shouting.  About 5 minutes later, the family arrived. Virl and Tom told me later, that before the police arrived, they jumped out of the car and chased three people off our property for at least a mile.

The most exciting time was in Cleveland, Ohio; we had just finished a parade. We just released the song, "One Bad Apple."  This was our first really big show on our own since releasing a record. Wow! When we went out in the dark, the flashes started and the screams were unbearable. I have never seen or heard anything this bright, and that loud before!  It truly left an impression on us that we will always treasure for the rest of our lives.

About your performances in the 70s...Who picked out and designed your stage clothes? Who arranged the music? Who selected the order in which you’d perform them? Who choreographed those dance steps?

Bill Belew (Elvis' designer) did the costumes. Merrill and Alan selected and organized the songs. I did the choreography for the brothers.

Do you have a particular “year” in the 70s that stands out as your most memorable - good or bad - during your early peak of success?

I think it was 1973, when we had several records chart at the same time. That was really cool (as my boys would say!).