Singer Wayne Osmond died on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, after suffering a stroke. He was 73 years old.

Wayne was diagnosed with a brain tumor in ’97 and nearly lost his hearing during treatment, and he had a stroke in 2012, leaving him no longer able to play guitar. The second stroke proved fatal.

“Wayne brought so much light, laughter, and love to everyone who knew him, especially me. He was the ultimate optimist and was loved by everyone,” Donny Osmond wrote on Instagram. “I’m sure I speak on behalf of everyone of us siblings when I state that we were fortunate to have Wayne as a brother.”

Wayne Osmond was a singer, composer, and he played multiple instruments as a part of the Osmonds family band. He was born on August 28, 1951 in Ogden, Utah, as the fourth of nine children.

Osmond and brothers Alan, Merrill, and Jay formed a barbershop quartet in 1958, and sang at their church. The Osmond Brothers first saw success on TV variety shows like The Andy Williams Show, while playing shows in Las Vegas, and appearing in the Western TV series The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters. They made some attempts at recording before signing with MGM Records who connected them with Fame Studios owner and producer Rick Hall.

Their name was shortened to the Osmonds, and they had a No. 1 hit with “One Bad Apple” in 1971. With other hits like “Yo-Yo,” “Down by the Lazy River,” and “Hold Her Tight,” the group gained international fame on the level of the Beatles. They were also the stars of the cartoon series, The Osmonds.

Wayne provided backing vocals with his baritone voice, he played lead guitar, drums, and saxophone, and he regularly wrote songs for the group. In ’74, he married Kathlyn White and the pair would have five children together. The band’s last big hit was also in ’74, though they did have a few country hits in the early 1980s. During the ‘90s, the group performed in the Osmond Family theatre and later went on a 50th anniversary tour in 2008.