43
Osmond brothers star in Christmas show Andy Williams’ legacy
By John Benson
When Jimmy Osmond thinks about Northeast Ohio, Youngstown always comes to mind.
“Coming through there during the ’70s, it was always a wonderful hot spot,” said Osmond, calling from Branson, Mo. “We’d play all of the fairs in that area, and just the reaction of the people there was fantastic.
“It was always a bit crazy in the ’70s with The Osmonds.”
It’s decades later, but Osmond’s touring schedule is just as busy. These days he’s taken over the responsibility of curator to Andy Williams’ legacy. After all, the Grammy Award-winning songwriter, who died in 2012, actually gave The Osmonds their first big break.
In 1964, brothers Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay Osmond became regulars on “The Andy Williams Show.” What was supposed to be a one-shot deal on the family-oriented variety entertainment show ended up becoming a weekly gig.
“My first experience was my brothers were regulars on the show,” Osmond said. “Being on ‘The Andy Williams Show’ was like being on ‘America’s Got Talent’ every week for years. I joined when I was 3 years old, singing ‘Red Roses for a Blue Lady’ with him and my brothers, and then I worked with him nonstop for the rest of my life.”
That included building an Osmond Family Theater in Branson next to Williams’ venue. When Osmond sold the theater, he received the unlikeliest of offers.
“Before Andy passed away, he knew I was a good operator and he said, ‘I really want to be remembered for my music,’” Osmond said. “Can you help me keep this theater going? I was overwhelmed by that task, because we wouldn’t even be in show business if it wasn’t for him. So I took it on a few years ago, and we’ve averaged about 400 shows annually.”
Those shows include the internationally touring Andy Williams’ Christmas Extravaganza, which makes its Buckeye State debut Monday at Stambaugh Auditorium.
“It just blows my mind to see even now what a reach he’s had,” Osmond said. “He touched so many people’s lives all over the world. He just has a style about him. He’s kind of the pioneer about variety television and these kinds of shows. It’s great fun to produce this show and see people literally just remember their lives when it was on the air.”
Audiences attending the Stambaugh Auditorium performance can expect a variety program that mirrors what they saw decades ago on “The Andy Williams Show.” The bill features Osmond joined by brothers Jay and Merrill, as well as Kathy, Janet and Mimi Lennon, “Britain’s Got Talent” singer Charlie Green, ventriloquist Steve Hewlett, The Lennon Granddaughters and The Moon River Band and Dancers. There’s also dancers and acrobatics from the Art of Illusion by Pasha and Aliona.
“It’s quite a large show,” Osmond said. “We’re hoping people like it and remember the nostalgic music. It’ll be all of the songs you’d expect from an Andy Williams Christmas show. People, hopefully, will leave feeling great.
“Really, if you can do something to help people forget their troubles for a couple of hours, that’s a fun job to have.”