The Osmond family "belongs to the world, but they also have a very special connection to those of us in this area," said Mormon Tabernacle Choir musical director Mack Wilberg at a pre-concert news conference July 25 featuring all the Osmond siblings.
"It's somewhat appropriate that they are concluding their 50th anniversary tour with us this weekend."
Family spokesman and youngest brother Jimmy responded that it was a dream come true. "You're always hesitant about playing a concert in your own hometown, and we're just overwhelmed with the response," he said, adding in jest, "I think it is due to all of the Osmonds' (extended family) requesting tickets."
It began, of course, in 1958, with the eldest singing brothers — Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay — performing for Church and civic functions in and near their hometown of Ogden. A performance at Disneyland in California brought them to the attention of Andy Williams, who put them on his weekly nationwide TV variety show. Younger siblings Donny, Marie and Jimmy later joined the act.
A recording contract in the early 1970s led to the worldwide Osmondmania phenomenon, and eventually, the popular "Donny and Marie Show," which aired on network television from 1976 to 1979.
"Somehow, we've made it through intact as a family," Jimmy said. "We love each other; we're still here for each other."
After the recent tour, which took them to England, Scotland, Australia, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and the United States, the appearance with the choir and orchestra is "the crown jewel," Jimmy said.
"This is our faith; this is our Church; these are the people that we love," he added.
When Donny said the family respects the sacredness of the Conference Center, Jimmy added that there would be some unusual repertoire for the building during the concert. Brother Wilberg joked that the only veto he had made was "the confetti out of the cannons."
Merrill said, "Wherever we have traveled throughout the world, everyone always brought up the Mormon Tabernacle Choir." He added, "We have never had the chance to unite our family with the choir until now. Our voices, along with the choir's voices will be a united message for the world to hear. It's all about family. It's all about faith. It's all about the Lord Jesus Christ."
Alan added, "Have we had tests? Yes. Test is the first four letters of testimony. And after our 50 years, we testify that this world is a great world, and families is what it's all about."
Asked to comment on their Mormon Pioneer heritage, Wayne said their great-grandfather joined the Church in England and immigrated to Utah, but he had Danish forebears, so the name Osmond is Danish.
Jimmy added that on the recent tour, they played in Cardiff, Wales, where they have ancestry on their mother's side. There, they appeared at the dedication of a children's hospital started by the Children's Miracle Network, a charity their mother, Olive, founded. "We found out our 'great-great-great' was a doctor in that very village, so you never know when you are going to run into your past."
Eldest brothers Virl and Tom, both hearing-impaired, appeared at the news conference and spoke to reporters.
"We're grateful to be a part of the family," Virl said. "All through the years, we've always been invited and involved behind the scenes, in spite of our hearing impairment."
Alan added that Virl and Tom were the first two deaf missionaries sent out by the Church, and Jay noted that they were the reason the family got into show business in the first place, to pay for hearing aids for the brothers. "They taught us how to tap dance and play saxophones," he said "They are our inspiration."
Jay said the first show the Osmonds did professionally was when he was 2 1/2 years old, an appearance at Wheeler Machinery in Salt Lake City. They started the clock on their 50 years with that appearance. "This is Alan's last show," he said. "But we started right here (in Salt Lake) and it will end right here."
Merrill said at the outset of their career, each family member received a blessing, and a common element of the blessings was that they would travel throughout the world and help open doors for the Church's missionary effort.
"Seeds have been planted throughout the world," he said, "And we're just so humbled that the Lord chose our little family to be part of the planting. We hope they continue to grow. That's what the Osmonds are all about."
He said the older brothers in particular do not know what the future holds, but they expect there will yet be further fulfillments of the blessings.
Alan said as the family traveled, they lived with the music of the Tabernacle Choir and later the Orchestra at Temple Square. He said the family would present the choir and orchestra with an award, recognizing them for being marvelous missionaries.
Marie noted that the family was told years ago "that if there was ever contention in your home, the best way to have the adversary leave was to turn on the Mormon Tabernacle Choir."
Added Jimmy, "We had it playing a lot!"
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