Following the breakout success of the Jackson 5 in 1970, it was practically inevitable that a pre-existing quintet of brothers, who had already enjoyed almost a decade in the national spotlight, would follow them to teen idol superstardom. With dynamic youngest brother Donny as a focal point, the Osmonds did exactly that, enjoying a run of massive popularity during 1971-1972. In 1971, “One Bad Apple” shot up the charts and landed in the top spot for five weeks, finally establishing the Osmonds as recording stars after nearly a decade in the public eye. A steady stream of hits continued unabated through 1972, including “Double Lovin’,” the Top Five hits “Yo-Yo” and “Down by the Lazy River,” “Hold Her Tight,” and “Crazy Horses.” Donny made a brief comeback in the late ’80s as a contemporary dance-pop singer and Broadway performer, as well as reuniting with his sister in the late ’90s for a daytime talk show, Donny & Marie. Beginning in the early ’80s, the four eldest members of the Osmonds — Alan, Merrill, Wayne, and Jay — performed together as a country act under the name the Osmond Brothers and achieved respectable commercial success. They continued to release albums available through their website and The Osmond Family Theatre in Branson, MO. A new album of sorts, Live in Las Vegas 50th Anniversary Reunion Concert, was released in 2008. The Osmonds continue to perform and excite audiences.
