Article #9218

Oldest member of the family pop group that had Top 10 hits in the US and UK in the early 1970s

For the first half of the 1970s, the Osmonds enjoyed the kind of pop-idol adulation enjoyed by the Beatles or the Jackson 5. Raised in a devout Mormon household, the Osmond siblings combined a formidable collective work ethic with an extraordinary amount of natural talent. Alan Osmond, who has died aged 76 after suffering from multiple sclerosis since the late 80s, made crucial contributions to the group as songwriter, musician and producer. He co-authored many of their biggest hits, including Down by the Lazy River, Hold Her Tight and Wild Horses.

In a social media tribute, his brother Donny wrote that “Alan was our leader in every sense of the word. His tireless work helped build everything we became … I owe him more than I can ever fully express.”