Osmonds Pioneer Day Concert

If you weren't lucky enough to get tickets to see the Osmonds perform live at the July 24, 2008, Pioneer Day event, here are some of the airdates and times for KBYU-TV and BYU Television:

KBYU-TV and BYU Television: Saturday, July 26 at 7:30 pm

KBYU-TV and BYU Television: Sunday, July 27 at 5:30 pm

There are additional broadcasts on BYU Television – you can check www.byutv.org for dates and times.

David Osmond Free Concert June 17 in Florida

David Osmond will be performing in a FREE concert Tuesday, June 17 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. This event will feature the tribute to both Pioneers and Joseph Smith with songs heard on the CDs Joseph: A Nashville Tribute to the Prophet and Trek: A Nashville Tribute to the Pioneers, both which featured songs by David. Seating is first come, first served for this free concert, so arrive early. Tell David you heard about it through the Osmond Strengthening Family blog.

David Osmond launches new Website and blog

David Osmond has launched a new website at blog, and he invites you to visit. His website can be found at: www.davidosmond.com

The blog can be clicked from that site, or you can find it directly at the link below: David's blog

Also, David has been interviewed by the National MS Society. The resulting article can be viewed at: National MS

Merrill featured in Forged in the Refiner's Fire

Forged in the Refiner's Fire by Candace Salima and Elizabeth Cheever

from Heather B. Moore
for LDS Readers

Recently I read Forged in the Refiner’s Fire—a compilation by Candace Salima and Elizabeth Cheever. I immediately found myself caught up in the stories of the trials and tribulations that others have gone through (some are well-known LDS names such as entertainer Merrill Osmond, author Tristi Pinkston, etc.). These are stories from the heart—stories that have changed lives. From an unwanted painful divorce, to a debilitating injury, to a childless couple—many walks of life are examined. Do these stories have good endings? Not necessarily—because they are true stories—about the ebb and flow of living a good life in spite of difficult challenges. About finding and maintaining faith against the odds.

An informational video can be found here on You Tube. In it, Candace Salima discusses the purpose and impact of the book.

Copies of Forged in the Refiner’s Fire are available on Candace's Website or on

Osmonds in the Philippines

The Osmond Brothers and Donny and Marie appeared on Eat Bulaga Friday the 13th June 13, 2008. To see their appearance, check out these videos on YouTube.



If you'd like to see photos from this video, visit: http://pinoybiscuits.blogspot.com/2008/06/osmond-brothers-with-donnie-and-marie.html

Note from Nathan & Plans made to rebuild birthplace of Osmond matriarch

A note from Nathan:

"Check out this article about the re-building of my Grandma Osmond's cabin. We are going to be there on July 19th for the dedication. We will be doing a concert the night before in Malad, ID and a fireside that Sunday. P.S. I have a FREE concert coming up on July 5th at 275 E. Center Street in Provo, UT. I would love it if you could help me spread the word. "

Here's the article from The Olympian (AP)

Plans are being made in this tiny eastern Idaho town to rebuild the log cabin that was the birthplace of Olive Osmond, mother of entertainers Donny and Marie Osmond, in hopes of attracting tourists.

Luke Waldron, who grew up in the town of about 200 residents, said he hopes to raise enough money to have the dismantled building put back together in time for Samaria Days on July 18, when the Osmonds Second Generation will be in town performing.

The musical group includes the eight sons of Alan Osmond, the third oldest of Olive's children. Waldron said they could take part in the dedication of the building if it is rebuilt in time.

Olive Osmond, who died in 2004, was born in the cabin in 1925.

"It was taken down about 15 years ago," Waldron, a history teacher at nearby Malad Middle School, told the Idaho State Journal. "We still have the original logs and we are trying to use as many of them as possible. Some can't be reused, though. Those at the top and bottom of the home are in pretty bad shape."

He said the cabin was originally built in 1869, and that Olive's grandparents, Sam and Mary Ann Martin, were living in the home when Olive was born.

The cabin changed hands in 1942, and Waldron said it was once listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

"A lot of the buildings put on the registry have been torn down or lost for other reasons," Waldron said. "There are still quite a few of them standing, and we are trying to save what is left."

He said the cabin will be rebuilt about 100 feet from its original site, improving its chances of being listed again on the register.

He said plans call for first rebuilding the room that was the living area and kitchen. If enough money is raised, he said a second room that was a large bedroom will be rebuilt.

"The one room is costing about $5,000 to get up," Waldron said. "If we could raise another $5,000, we could put the other room up. We decided to put up the one room and hopefully people will get excited about the project."

Complete story from:
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/476640.html

Osmond's Final England Performance

I ran across the blog with some great photos of the final performance in England and wanted to make sure all of our readers had a chance to view the photos and read the comments.

Visit: http://www.whatsgottastay.com/a-final-farewell/

Announcing the Birth of Jennifer Elise

Amy Osmond and her husband Jeff welcomed a new daughter, Jennifer Elise, on May 21, at 2:22 p.m. The baby was 6 pounds, 12 ounces at birth. Both baby and Mommy are doing well. Check in for Amy's new blog message in a couple of weeks.

David Osmond Talks About uPlej and MS

The last few years of my life have changed me forever. Not too many people know this but I spent a lot of time in a wheel chair due to being paralyzed, numb, and compressed from the chest down. My eyesight was diminishing, I couldn't move my hands very well and a list of other complications followed. This was not due to any accident or injury. No broken neck or pinched nerve. Of all things, this whole issue started with a mosquito bite. I was diagnosed with the WEST NILE VIRUS.

But that wasn't exactly what put me into a wheel chair. It took us a while to figure it out, but my doctors believe that the Virus was a "trigger" to an Auto-Immune Disorder. I was diagnosed with a Demyelinating Disorder of the Central Nervous System. In short, I was diagnosed with MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. This causes scarring and lesions on my brain and spine. I no longer have active West Nile Virus in my system, but I AM still fighting this "MS" today. The battle has been going on for nearly two and a half years. Ironically, my dad Alan has lived with MS for over 20 years. He is a fighter and a positive influence for countless numbers of people... including me!

Today, I am no longer in the wheel chair, my eyesight is back, my hands move again, I am walking just fine and I am picking up my music with a whole new perspective and passion. I'm not out of the woods by any means, but I am definitely planning on RUNNING out of the woods. I don't know by what means or time frame, but I DO believe wholeheartedly that I will! I know it sounds crazy but this whole experience is one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me. To experience your toes moving again for the first time... INCREDIBLE! I will never, EVER again, take another step in my life for granted. And that goes for a lot of other things as well.

I believe in the Power of ONE! One person CAN make a difference. And I believe where much is given, much is required. I've been given so much in my life and I hope to give back in even the smallest and simplest ways possible. That is why I decided to join uPlej. A little bit CAN go a long way!

There are several Organizations, Foundations and Charities that I am passionate about. One of them that I support, and comes as no surprise, is the National MS Society. I am hopeful for the future, and I believe that someday soon, we WILL find a cure for this terrible disease!

To learn more about David and uPlej, visit his site at: http://uplej.com/davidosmond

Osmond-fever hits London with the return of the Seventies stars

Nathan sent along this link about the Osmond concert at the Wembley arena.

http://www.hellomagazine.com/music/2008/05/31/osmonds-wembley-gig/

May 27, 2008

Birmingham has not seen its like for nearly 30 years. But yesterday Osmond-mania returned to the city with thousands of young-at-heart women re-living their past. Among them was self-confessed Osmonds nut Lindsey Campton

THROUGH the dry ice that surrounded the stage, the now very familiar first bars of Crazy Horses rang out, and suddenly there they were – suited, booted and ready to rock – and the fans went wild! With a combined age of 365 years, with more than 50 years in show business, the greatest musical family of all time hit the stage running at the NIA.

The six brothers, Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay, Donny, and Jimmy, and their sister Marie, had arrived and in a few seconds had taken us all back to the heady days of the '70's - rock and roll was back.

The Osmonds took the stage by storm. Long gone is the boy band. This was a true rock and roll band, with Merrill once more taking the lead and looking every inch the true sexy rock star he is.

Following on with Back on the Road Again the huge screens behind the stage took us back to 1975 when they first appeared at Earls Court, showing long forgotten footage of those concerts and screaming fans - some things never change.

All the classics were there, Let Me In, The Proud One and when they asked "What are you doing tonight?" from Down by the Lazy River, the fans answered back in one voice, and the Osmonds loved it!

Sister Marie, who has very rarely appeared with her brothers, took to the stage with her very own style of country music.

After being joined back on stage by all her brothers, the Osmonds joined together to sing their theme song, He ain't Heavy He's my Brother, which they dedicated to their two older brothers, Virl and Tom, who were both born with hearing difficulties - there was not a dry eye in the house.

The second half began with We're having a Party, with fireworks and streamers being blasted over the crowds. Later, Donny couldn't resist singing Puppy Love and he certainly got the reaction he was looking for - the fans loved it.

They finished the show with the classic Love me for A Reason and the crowd lifted the roof once more – the standing ovation that lasted for what seemed like hours said it all.

Earlier in the day we had joined the throngs of fans outside the HMV store where Jimmy and Jay were signing copies of their 50th Anniversary special DVD. Apparently HMV had expected around 300 fans, they were more than a little surprised when nearly 1,000 turned up. I spoke with fans that had travelled from Tenerife, France and even New Zealand to see the boys on this Tour.

(Original article can be found at: http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2008/05/27/the-osmonds-return-to-brum-97319-20978651/