Wayne Osmond, brother of Donny and Marie Osmond, has died. He was 73.
One of the founding members of the Osmond Brothers, Wayne died on New Year’s Day, his family confirmed in a statement to Utah ABC news affiliate KTVX.
Wayne’s brother Merrill Osmond, 71, said in a Facebook post that the singer had a massive stroke.
After learning the news, Merrill said he drove to the hospital and “was able to say my goodbyes.”
“Wayne Osmond, beloved husband and father, passed away peacefully last night surrounded by his loving wife and five children,” the Osmond family’s statement read.
“His legacy of faith, music, love, and laughter have influenced the lives of many people around the world.”
“He would want everyone to know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true, that families are forever, and that banana splits are the best dessert,” the family added. “We love him and will miss him dearly.”
The first of the Osmond siblings to pass away, Wayne was the second-oldest of the original Osmond Brothers group and the fourth oldest of the nine Osmond children.
He was only 6 years old when he and his brothers Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay began singing as a barbershop quartet-style act in Ogden, Utah, in 1958.
The Osmond Brothers rose to fame in the 1960s after performing at Disneyland and were spotted by the father of singer and TV host Andy Williams, who booked the group to appear on “The Andy Williams Show.” The band, which soon added brothers Jimmy and Donny and changed their band name to the Osmonds, continued to appear regularly on the show.
The young Mormons presented a wholesome, clean-cut image and soon became teen idols.
The Osmonds’ music peaked in popularity in 1971 when their single “One Bad Apple” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it stayed for five weeks.
Shortly after, the brothers went their separate ways to pursue solo careers. At the same time, Donny and Marie were beginning their own ascent to stardom.
In 1974, Wayne married Kathlyn White, who was the previous year’s Miss Utah. They had five children together.
Wayne suffered from a litany of health problems over the years. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1997. Though treatment for the tumor was successful, it left him nearly deaf.
In 2012, he had a stroke and was treated for cancer. He was unable to play the guitar after.
Some of Wayne’s siblings remembered their brother in posts on social media.
Jay, 69, wrote on Instagram, “Throughout my life I have always felt most connected to Wayne out of all of my siblings.”
He continued, “It is said that where there is great love there is great grief as we part during our earthly journey.”
“What gives me joy is to know that my brother Wings has earned his wings and I can only imagine the heights he is soaring right now.”
In a post on Facebook, Merrill wrote, “My brother was a saint before he came into this world, and he will leave as an even greater saint than he came in.”
“His departure from this earth will be a sad moment for some,” Merrill continued, “but for those who are waiting for him on the other side, there will be a massive celebration beyond anything we can imagine.”