Melvin Wayne Osmond was an American musician. He was the second oldest of the original Osmond Brothers singers and the fourth oldest of the nine Osmond children.
Early Life and Family
Wayne Osmond was born on August 28, 1951, in Ogden, Utah, to Olive May and George Virl Osmond. He was the fourth of nine children in the Osmond brood. Growing up in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the family emphasized faith and music. Wayne and three of his brothers (Alan, Merrill, and Jay, in their respective age orders) started performing as a barbershop quartet in 1958 to raise money for hearing aids for their two older brothers, Virl and Tom, who were born deaf.
Musical Career
Wayne started performing as a child, playing with his brothers Alan, Merrill, and Jay. Their talent was noticed onstage at Disneyland in 1961 by Andy Williams’ father, Jay Emerson Williams, leading to regular stints on “The Andy Williams Show.” The Osmonds shot to stardom in the 1970s with chart-topping songs like “One Bad Apple,” which spent five weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971.
These Osmond brothers also appeared in nine episodes of the 1963–1964 ABC Western series The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters, with Wayne playing a young Leviticus Kissel.
Wayne’s perfect pitch and skill on several instruments, including the guitar and bagpipes, shaped the group’s sound.
His last intended appearance with the Osmonds was on October 13, 2018; however, the four brothers performed as a group a year later on the CBS daytime show “The Talk” as a birthday gift for their sister, Marie.
Personal Life and Relationships
On December 13, 1974, Wayne married Kathlyn Louise White, a former Miss Utah from Bountiful. The couple had five children — three daughters and two sons. In the 1990s, the family settled in Branson, Mo., where Wayne was a performer.
Health Challenges
Wayne was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1997, but with successful treatment came severe hearing loss. Despite that setback, he went back to performing. He had a stroke in 2012 that left him unable to play the guitar, and he retired from regular performances.
Net Worth
Estimates of Wayne Osmond’s net worth vary. Some sources suggest it was around $7 million, reflecting his extensive career in music and entertainment. Others estimate it to be between $1 million and $5 million, considering his focus on group endeavors and other interests. However, according to Celebrity Net Worth, his brother Merrill has an estimated net worth of $5 million, and Donny is worth $8 million.
Death
Wayne Osmond died on January 1, 2025, at age 73, from complications of a stroke at the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. He passed away peacefully, with his wife and children beside him. His family and fans remember him for his musical talent, unwavering faith, and the joy he brought to many.
