Alan Osmond, the oldest member of the Osmonds family, has died at the age of 76.
He died at 8:30 p.m. Monday, with his wife of more than 50 years, Suzanne, and their eight sons by his side, KSL reported.
The cause of death has not been disclosed, but he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1987.
Alan performed on ‘The Andy Williams Show’ with his brothers Wayne, Meryl and Jay.
Alan performed on ‘The Andy Williams Show’ with his brothers Wayne, Meryl and Jay. He formed a barbershop quartet when he was just 12 years old.
He helped write the Osmonds’ hits “One Bad Apple” and “Crazy Horses.”
“Crazy Horse” peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, reached number 2 in the UK, and was a huge hit in Ireland, the Netherlands and Canada.
Alan met his wife, Suzanne Pinegar, a cheerleader, at a Brigham Youth University basketball game and they had their first date at Y Mountain in Utah, the Herald Extra reported.
The couple wed on July 16, 1974 at the Provo LDS Temple, but that night Alan returned to the stage and performed two shows in Las Vegas.
Alan said Suzanne “stole his heart”, but admitted: “I didn’t know what I was getting into when I said, ‘Yes, I’ll marry you.'”
Despite being diagnosed with MS, he refused to be defined by the condition and lived by the motto, “I may have MS, but MS doesn’t have me!”
However, his illness ultimately forced him to retire from live performances.
“I couldn’t raise my right hand on stage,” Alan previously said.
“I trusted my Heavenly Father. Opposition is necessary in life. This was a test for me.”
Meryl Osmond revealed that her brother was “struggling” two days before his death.
“It was a pleasure to sit quietly with him,” he wrote on Facebook.
“We spoke from the heart, like brothers. He was having a hard time, but when I shared a joke or two, he regained his strength to laugh…and he smiled.
“My brother has now stepped into the presence of his Heavenly Father with honor and peace. His life was not measured in years, but in love, sacrifice, and purpose.”
Describing Alan as a “missionary” and a “saint,” Merrill told mourners: “Don’t let your hearts be heavy.”
“Don’t cry for him. Rejoice knowing your brother, your friend, your hero is no longer in pain. He’s free. He’s whole. He’s home.”
Alan is survived by his wife Suzanne and children.
Her son David, who appeared on the eighth season of “American Idol,” was diagnosed with MS in 2005.
