The Osmond Brothers are national phenomena.Their career started out as a one time shot on national TV and has not yet ended.Over four decades of singing, playing, hoofing and comedy have garnered the Osmond Brothers their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.This August, the Osmond star will be forever enshrined, on the most famous walk in the world, as a tribute to their life-long contribution to the entertainment industry.
The Brothers have achieved a remarkable record in the industry.They have had a one-year period with a total of nine gold records.That is an achievement that surpasses both Elvis and the Beatles.They have mastered and play twenty-eight instruments and have entertained audiences in all corners of the world.Their career, which so far has spanned forty-five years, is a rarity in the industry.Their longevity can only be attributed to the fact that they have been consistent in their performances and they give their audiences the very best they have to give, every time.
It is the twentieth century, the whereabouts is uncertain.The six Osmond Brothers are giving a concert.It is the last concert performance of the six Brothers together.What a sad day that was.The Brothers go separate ways, some to perform, some to raise families and one to start a life-long battle with Multiple Sclerosis.
Then a bright day came at last………
The date is
KLM:”Donny, tell me what the moment today was like.”
DONNY:”Well, to have all six of us on stage, I can’t remember the exact time or exact date that ever happened in the past.I think it was in the early 80’s, where all six of us were together.”
“What we did today, I think, was more heart-warming for the audience than being a part of Osmond-mania.It was like a memory.Like walking down memory lane for them as well as for us.”
The Brothers are home again, onstage again, under their former mentor’s eye, Andy Williams.
KLM:”This is how it all started?”
JAY:”Yes, in 1962.”
MERRILL:”Even today, we sit here and talk to Andy about our years with him and the stories.We love working here.After all these years, we think this is probably going to be the end as far as the “Brothers” working at a theater.”
JAY:”Because you can’t top this.I call this a ‘heavenly gig.’You can’t top working with Andy, he is so kind.Just ask any of his people.He treats everyone so nice.”
WAYNE:”Andy’s a great guy.” Andy, sitting in the seventh row of his beautiful Moon River Theater, watches with many obvious emotions as the Osmond Brothers bring music, harmony and excitement to his stage. Years have passed, but it was as if no time has elapsed between the two performances.The Osmonds are home again.The Osmonds are great.The show is one-of-a-kind.The day is perfect.
KLM:”Years ago, back in the seventies, there was Osmond-mania.What did that do to you guys?”
JAY:”It short-circuited Wayne.”
WAYNE:”It was quite amazing.It was something that very few people get to really experience.A mania like that, it’s unbelievable.”
MERRILL:”Mania is something we’ll never forget.Even Paul McCartney said he had never seen anything like it.”
JAY:”One of our highlights was meeting Paul McCartney.He came to see us with his daughters, Heather and Mary, especially for Donny, to get his autograph.It was nice to have Paul McCartney ask for your autograph.”
The fans in the audience are agog with Osmond-frenzy, waving light sticks, holding up signs of love and cheering as if it were a bottom of the ninth, game saving, grand slam homer.The Brothers were giving their best, their all and the crowd was fruitfully rewarded with a once in a lifetime performance.
KLM:”Alan, how did it feel to be back onstage performing with your brothers again?”
ALAN:”It felt natural.It felt like, where have I been.I have been working very hard on this MS thing.I’ve always said, I may have it, but it does not have me.What a high for me and my good wife, who is here, to be able to bring back some good old remembrances.To remember how good my brothers are.I stood and watched them from the side of the stage.I probably smiled like crazy, but I enjoyed it.I realize how much I miss my brothers.The people here in Branson are awesome.What a great place for families.It was a great place to come back and have a reunion.Thank you all so much.”
DONNY:”It’s funny, that Andy Williams Tribute, “Moon River” that we sang, when Andy wasn’t at the mike. Do you know the last time we did that as a group?At least 25 years ago.That wasn’t rehearsed.We all just fell right into it, remembered all of our own parts, remembered the choreography.”
KLM:”What do you guys do with your spare time here in Branson?”
MERRILL:”I am a collector.I collect “Beanie Babies.”It’s not for me, for my daughter.I’m going everywhere in town.This is a great place to collect “Beanies” and also antiques.We love antiques.We like to go out and try new restaurants.We like doing that.”
JAY:”I am actually close to finishing up a degree.So I am spending a lot of time on my home study, in correspondence.”
WAYNE:”He’s up to 95 degrees now.Pretty soon he’ll be alive.”
MERRILL:”We are obviously working on the future.We are working on our European Re-Visit tour, getting ready to put that together.”
WAYNE:”I usually go take three naps daily.”
KLM:”Guys, when the last curtain is called and the last song sung, how would you like to be remembered?What would the epitaph on your tombstone read?”
JAY:”He tried, he really tried.”
MERRILL:”Let the reason be Love.”
DONNY:”Someone who was able to re-invent himself, time and time again.”
WAYNE:”Tell us another joke.”
Courtesy of Branson Daily Independent