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Show Volume II , Issue VI The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 23 March 2000 34 Years Ago Osmonds Enjoy Valley Vacation HUNTSVILLE- It’s a long way from a small Ogden Valley farm to York, Pennsylvania, or Tokyo, Japan. But that’s the course Ogden’s singing Osmond Brothers will take when they wind up a month’s vacation here next week. Whether they’re performing on a Hollywood television stage or in front of an audience at one of the state fairs where they will fill engagements, their thoughts will frequently return to their summer home in Huntsville overlooking Pineview Reservoir where some of their happiest times are spent with their brothers and sisters. PREPARE FAREWELL Mr. and Mrs. George Osmond and their family have been at their attractive Huntsville farmhouse during August, primarily to prepare the eldest son, George Virl, for his missionary farewell and departure for the Western Canadian Mission. When they begin a rigorous fall and winter schedule, the Osmond Brothers will fill singing engagements in many cities across the nation, join Andy Williams for some of his television shows and even travel overseas to Japan and Australia for appearances. Before this summer respite, the Osmond Brothers traveled to Sweden for several engagements. While they were touring, Mrs. Osmond made a firm decision: The family was going to spend a month together at their Huntsville home. She notified their agent and cancelled August engagements. “And we’ve enjoyed every minute of it” said dad. PURSUE HOBBY The boys have been pursuing their latest hobby, photography. An improvised darkroom has been built in the basement. Other times, the kids-nine in allpile in a boat for a refreshing ride around the pond that fronts the Osmond home. Time has also been devoted to working up routines and new specialty numbers for their appearances on the Andy Williams Show on television this fall. This year the Osmond brothersfive with the addition of 8-year-old Donnie to the singing troupe-will try doing some pop songs. Booking agent for the Osmond Brothers is Don Williams, brother to singer Andy Williams. Mom and dad Osmond have always worked out the numbers and trained the boys. The boys began making public appearances as a quartet seven years ago. POPULARITY GAINS Overnight their popularity gained and five years ago their singing style caught the fancy of Andy Williams. Their fame skyrocketed and since that time they have made regular appearances on the Andy Williams Show as well as filling state fair and nightclub engagements. Recently, Mr. Osmond signed a two-year contract with the Sahara Of Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe. By Rosemary Waite Valley Elementary School from 1966 through 1967. Donnie was in 4th grade, Mrs. Mildred Shupe’s class and Marie in 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Zella Chard. Their mother would drive them to school and pick them up after. Mr. Osmond said why they came to Huntsville to live is they wanted their Enjoying their boat on the pond in front of their Huntsville home are the Osmonds. The boys will be at the Las Vegas Sahara over the Christmas holidays. “But we’ll spend a Christmas holiday at our Huntsville home if it has to be a belated one,” Mrs. Osmond said. Members of the famed singing troupe are Alan, 16; Wayne, 14; Merrill, 12; Jay, 10, and Donnie, 8. Older brothers George Virl, 20 and Tommie, 18 have danced WITH THEIR BROTHERS DURING SOME TELEVISION APPEARANCES. Other children are Marie, 6, and Jimmy, 3. JUGGLING OF PARTS As the singers have grown older and experienced voice changes “there’s been some juggling of the singing parts.” This is a major reason for adding Donnie so that there will be someone to fill the tenor part, the father said. Despite their full schedule the talented boys are obtaining an education. A tutor meets them in their San Fernando Valley, California home where the family remains through the winter months. Courtesy of the Standard-Examiner, August 24,1966 Osmonds’ Life in Huntsville Mr. & Mrs. George Osmond built a home in Huntsville in 1961. The Osmonds lived in the home until 1986. They rented it to Gil and Maree Burkman who later purchased the home in 1995. Donnie and Marie Osmond went to family to feel what it was like to live in a small town and have the experience of raising farm animals. They even had a worm farm. When Virl Osmond went on his LDS mission, his farewell address was in the Huntsville Church. The brothers sang some musical numbers. They really rumbled the sound system and made the church rafters sing. The program was very impressive. You can still see the pine trees that line the south side of the property that were planted for each Osmond. Child. The boys planted small shrubs around the home. They are big now. Thirty years old. Mr. Gil Burkman says the boys and Marie Osmond have brought their family up to the old home many times. They love to renew old memories and reminisce and tell stories of what they did here and relate them to their children. www.move2ogdenvalley.com |