Music Interview: The Osmonds
Yorkshire Evening Post
by Martin Hutchinson
January 26, 2012
FOR over 50 years, The Osmond Brothers have been entertaining us and their golden anniversary tour a couple of years ago was almost a complete sell-out.
However, good things must eventually come to an end and to that end, they are undertaking their final UK tour – and it’s their biggest ever.
Thanks to their appearances on The Andy Williams Show on TV, The Osmonds became world-wide stars, and when they started to release records and tour, the reaction was so powerful that ‘Osmondmania’ hit the world, with scenes reminiscent of ‘Beatlemania’ from the previous decade as they amassed millions of (predominantly female) fans.
Their hit catalogue is pretty impressive, with hits like One Bad Apple, Let Me In, Crazy Horses and Love Me for a Reason being the pick.
Not only that, but it wasn’t long before members of the family went solo and for a time the charts included hits by The Osmonds, Donny Osmond, Marie Osmond, Donny and Marie Osmond and Little Jimmy Osmond.
They have sold over 100 million records and have garnered 59 gold and platinum discs as well.
Jimmy was never a part of the group back in the Seventies, he arrived on the scene in 1972 with Long Haired Lover From Liverpool, but 20 years ago he decided to join them in touring.
Speaking from his home in Utah, Jimmy tells me that Britain has a special place in his heart.
“I’ve always been welcomed in whatever I do, whether it be singing or doing panto.”
“Since the Seventies, the UK has been amazing, not just to me but to all my brothers too.”
And of course, they have many fans here, but here Jimmy contradicts.
“They aren’t fans – they are all friends, and we don’t deserve them.”
The line-up for this final UK tour is Jimmy, Jay, Wayne and Merrill.
“Yes,” Jimmy says, “This line-up has been the core. It’s my ‘safe’ place, really.
“The brothers haven’t really stopped performing in all this time, they are the longest running group in history with the same members, and it’s all down to the older brothers who made it happen.”
There have been times when different combinations of the group have toured, sometimes with four members and sometimes only three, but Jimmy says that these fluctuations don’t affect the arrangements to any large degree.
“No, not really, however the barbershop quartet is sometimes affected when there’s only three of us, and Merrill and I switch lead singing duties.”
After a trio of top 20 hits, Jimmy seemed to disappear from the scene and got involved with other things, as he explains.
“I never really stopped, myself, actually. I performed a lot in Japan and then I got involved in other people’s careers from Bon Jovi to Michael Jackson.
“Then, about 20 years ago, I was thinking what I wanted to do and I wanted to get involved with my brothers again – after all, they had sacrificed a lot and pushed us younger ones forward.”
He sums it up simply.
“Timing is everything and we have HAD to be together.”
When he had the hit with Long Haired Lover From Liverpool, he was reported as not knowing where Liverpool was but that was soon put right.
Learned
He laughs. “It’s true that I had never been to Liverpool and didn’t know anything about it, but I soon learned.”
And despite that he celebrates his 48th birthday on April 16 (a rare day off on the tour), he still has to sing the hit he had before he was 10 years old – in fact he is still the youngest person to have a chart-topper in the UK.
“I learned a long time ago that you don’t mess with people’s memories. I left the song out of the set, but we were at the Wembley Arena and the place erupted and I had to sing it – so basically it was a case of ‘just shut up and do your job’.
“Amazingly, it was the biggest selling UK hit for anything with The Osmonds’ name.”
He is comfortable with it though and even jokes about it. A few years ago, when on tour with his brothers, Jimmy came to the front of the stage and said:
“OK, let’s get it over with.” And sang the song.
“The good thing is that people have allowed me to grow up. But this tour is really about my brothers.”
He admits to not really having a favourite Osmonds song.
“I don’t really listen to our songs as I’m not that narcissic, I tend to like classic rock and The Eagles.”
But he does have a soft spot for one of his brothers’ albums.
“I love The Plan (their 1973 concept album about their Mormon religion). Up to then, all the hits had been chosen by the record company, but the brothers rebelled and it paid off – I think people recognise what’s sincere.
“I’m so glad that they stood up for what they believed in – it was like their White album.”
Jimmy has a high regard for their music repertoire, as he explains.
“The songs have really stood the test of time and have been covered by many top artists,” he says.
“Crazy Horses has a cool iconic sound and Let Me In is a wonderful song.”
They are all veterans of show-business but are still looking forward to coming over.
“We are really up for this, we love it in the UK.”
As previously mentioned, this tour is the biggest one they have undertaken in Britain – 46 concerts in 55 days and Jimmy is well aware of it.
Gruelling
“There’s no doubt that it’s gonna be a gruelling tour, but we love what we do. We do about 200 shows a year and you can’t fake it for that length of time.”
Not only does he enjoy performing for their many fans, they brothers enjoy being together.
“It’s great that we can celebrate 53 years and still be friends,” Jimmy states.
“However, we don’t always get along and we do have our rows.”
The tour is The Osmonds’ way of showing their appreciation to their fans – sorry – friends.
“Yes, we truly want this tour to be a great big thank you to everyone for their love and support through the years,” concludes Jimmy.
“This last tour is important to us and we want it to be fun.”
April 3, St George’s Hall, Bradford, Tel: 01274 432000, and April 7, The Barbican, York, Tel: 0844 854 2757.
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