The Osmonds

Starting as a barbershop quartet in the late 1950s, the Osmond brothers—Alan, Wayne, Merrill, and Jay—first won audiences as regulars on The Andy Williams Show, where their clean-cut energy made them household favorites long before pop stardom arrived. By the time Donny joined, the group had evolved into a polished pop act, and in 1971 they rocketed up the charts with “One Bad Apple,” a No. 1 hit initially offered to The Jackson 5.

At their peak in the early ’70s, The Osmonds pulled off an unusual balancing act: they were teen idols selling millions of records and ambitious musicians experimenting with rock, soul, and even concept albums—“The Plan” being the cult favorite among collectors today.

Marie carved out her own success with country crossovers like “Paper Roses,” while Jimmy, the youngest, became a bona fide child star with hits in the UK and Japan. Their later “Donny & Marie” variety show cemented the family as TV royalty, complete with high-gloss production numbers and the kind of wholesome charm that made them both loved and gently teased.

For all their polish, the Osmonds were known behind the scenes for serious musical chops: they wrote, arranged, and played on more of their records than many pop groups of their era. Decades later, their harmonies, energy, and sheer work ethic remain a key chapter in American pop history—and a goldmine for fans who love a group that could do just about everything.