Wayne Osmond, the second-oldest of the legendary Osmonds, died on Jan. 1. He was 73 years old.
Wayne, one of nine Osmond siblings, started a barbershop quartet in 1958 alongside his brothers Alan, Merrill and Jay. After getting discovered from a Disneyland performance, the boys were cast over a seven-year period on NBC’s The Andy Williams Show beginning in 1962. When brothers Jimmy and Donny joined the group, they became known as the Osmonds and were standout teen idols throughout the ‘70s.
The Osmonds formed in their hometown of Ogden, Utah. Their mother, Olive, reflected on their origin, born of their Mormon faith, in a 1976 interview, as recounted in Fred Bronson’s The Billboard Book of Number One Hits. “The church encourages talent, beginning with such things as singing, sports and speeches when the children are small,” she mused. “That’s how the four boys started singing together.”
The Osmonds charted four top 10s, among 10 top 40 hits, on the Billboard Hot 100, including the 1971 No. 1 “One Bad Apple.” Alan and Merrill Osmond co-wrote “Down by the Lazy River” (No. 4, 1972), the group’s biggest self-penned hit. The act achieved its top-charting album on the Billboard 200 with Phase-III, which reached No. 10 in 1972. The Osmonds tallied 13 titles on the tally through 2008.
Following 13 Hot 100 hits in 1971-76, the Osmonds disbanded in the summer of 1980. They reformed in 1982, minus Donny, and logged 11 entries on the Hot Country Songs chart, through 1986, led by their introductory hit at the format, the top 20-peaking “I Think About Your Lovin’.”
Amid the Osmonds’ chart dominance as a group, Donny scored solo success, earning five Hot 100 top 10s in 1971-73, including the three-week No. 1 “Go Away Little Girl,” which led seven months after “One Bad Apple.” After a 13-year-break from the chart, he returned and marched to No. 2 in 1989 with “Soldier of Love.”
Plus, Donny and sister Marie Osmond notched seven Hot 100 hits in 1974-78, including two top 10s. Marie forged her own successful career in country, running up four Hot Country Songs No. 1s in 1973-86.
On Jan. 2, Donny shared a heartfelt tribute on X, writing, “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. I’m sure I speak on behalf of every one of us siblings when I state that we were fortunate to have Wayne as a brother.”
Below, browse the Osmonds’ 10 biggest career hits as a group on the Hot 100.
The Osmonds’ Biggest Billboard Hits chart is based on actual performance on the weekly Hot 100 chart from its Aug. 4, 1958, inception, through Jan. 4, 2025. Songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at No. 1 earning the greatest value and weeks at No. 100 earning the least. Due to changes in chart methodology over the years, eras are weighted to account for different chart turnover rates over various periods.
