George Osmond, father of music clan, dies at 90

"He taught his boys (my dad and uncles) how to work hard by making them pick apples in the orchard," Nathan Osmond said. "Then he taught them how to play hard by using some of those apples as balls and played baseball with his boys."

"He loved onion-and-tomato sandwiches," Nathan said. "He loved his Westerns. He was a true cowboy — a tough dude. He survived everything from car accidents to his pacemaker."

Mr. Osmond and his wife, Olive, formed the Osmond Foundation, which later became the Children's Miracle Network, a nonprofit organization that raises funds for children's hospitals.

Donny Osmond was in the "Entertainment Tonight" studio getting ready to tape a segment for a show when he learned of his father's death. Marie Osmond performed Monday night on "Dancing With the Stars." After a dance to "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," a song from World War II, Marie talked about how her parents danced for money when they were young and struggling.

She was due to appear on Tuesday night's results segment, but she instead boarded a plane in Los Angeles with her brother to return to Utah.

George Osmond married Olive on Dec. 1, 1944. She died on Mother's Day 2004.

The couple were the parents of nine children, all but two of whom became singing stars.

Alan, Wayne, Merrill, and Jay Osmond first became famous as The Osmond Brothers, a barbershop quartet singing at Disneyland and on "The Andy Williams Show."

Their brother, Donny Osmond, joined the group at age 6 and later hosted "The Donny and Marie Show" with his sister. The youngest son, Jimmy Osmond, is also a performer.

The oldest sons, Virl and Tom, who have varying levels of deafness, have not performed much on stage with the family. However, they continue to work behind the scenes promoting and supporting the family and projects.

George Osmond is survived by nine children, 55 grandchildren and 48 great-grandchildren. Services in Provo are pending.

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Contributing: The Associated Press

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