In his later years, Alan's family became particularly important as his health declined.
His wife and sons were with him when he died.
That detail offers a poignant conclusion to a life that began and ended surrounded by family.
Alan and His Brothers
Alan's relationship with his brothers was at the center of his life.
Wayne, Merrill and Jay were his original performing partners.
Donny and Jimmy later joined the musical family enterprise.
Each brother eventually developed his own identity.
Merrill became known as a powerful singer and songwriter.
Jay became increasingly involved in directing, choreography and stage productions.
Donny developed a major solo career and became one of the most recognizable Osmonds.
Jimmy became a performer in his own right.
But Alan remained the eldest performing brother and, in many ways, the family's early leader.
That leadership role was recognized by his siblings.
After Alan's death, Donny described him as “the one who quietly carried so much responsibility so the rest of us could shine.”
