From Deseret News archives:
Osmonds are ready for overseas tour
"There aren't that many of us," Jimmy Osmond , 45, says.
Only 70 or so. A small army, to be sure.
The two-month tour of Europe and Asia — which opens Sunday in Belfast, Northern Ireland — is a celebration of 50 years in the limelight for the Osmonds. Most of the family is going — by plane, not by ship.
Donny and Marie (who perform individually and as the sibling duo) will lead the troupe, which includes brothers Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay and Jimmy (who perform as The Osmond Brothers — not to be confused with their children, who perform as The Osmonds Second Generation).
"Getting all of us together is a mess," Jimmy Osmond says. "Our families have grown since we started 50 years ago."
The two-month world tour promotes the Osmonds' 50th Anniversary Reunion DVD and CD, which was recorded in Las Vegas last summer. It was the first time the entertainers had performed together in 27 years. The performance also has aired as a PBS fundraiser.
Once they have conquered the rest of the world, the Osmond legion will set its sights back on Las Vegas. But the troupe will be divided, with Donny and Marie and the Osmond Brothers going their separate ways.
Donny and Marie have already sold out shows July 17-23 at the MGM Grand. They will return to Las Vegas on Sept. 9 for the debut of their production at the Flamingo Showroom, where they'll replace Toni Braxton.
The Osmond Brothers — who do about 200 engagements a year — will perform Sept. 26-28 at The Orleans, thus competing against their brother and sister.
When you have so many Osmonds running around entertaining, it's inevitable that they sometimes are going to bump into each other.
They have been performing professionally for half a century — Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay were the first group. Donny, 50, was born the year they started, and he joined up in 1961, at the age of 5. Marie, 48, came aboard when she was 3. Jimmy was 3 when he first performed in Las Vegas at the International Hotel (now the Hilton) with Frank Sinatra and his daughter Nancy — then he went on to appear on "The Andy Williams Show," a family tradition.
Older brothers George, 62, and Thomas, 60, were born deaf and initially did not perform, but in 1978 they debuted with their siblings on "The Donny & Marie Christmas Special" and have made occasional appearances since then.
At one point, three theaters in Branson, Mo., featured Osmonds — Marie was in one, the Brothers were in a second and Second Generation was in the third.
"We all did great business," Jimmy Osmond said. "I don't know if that's going to be the case coming up."
He doesn't feel competitive.
