Wayne Osmond, a member of the American band The Osmonds, has passed away at the age of 73. He is the first member of the group to die.
The Osmonds achieved significant success in the 1970s, including in the Netherlands, with hits like “Crazy Horses” (1972) and “Down By The Lazy River” (1973) reaching the top of the Dutch charts. Wayne, born in Utah as the fourth of nine children, began performing at age seven with his brothers in their Mormon church.
The group gained television exposure on shows like The Andy Williams Show between 1962 and 1967. Donny Osmond later joined the group, and they achieved their biggest U.S. hit in 1971 with “One Bad Apple.” By the mid-70s, their popularity waned, but Wayne and his original brothers found success as country artists in the 1980s.
Wayne’s health declined in the late 1990s due to a brain tumor and subsequent stroke, which severely impaired his hearing and ability to play guitar. His brother Merrill announced Wayne suffered another stroke recently, leading to his passing.
Source: NOS