David Visits Archuleta Concert

Vestiges of "American Idol" were all around the E Center during David Archuleta's concert Friday night: this season's contestant David Osmond was mobbed in the aisles before the show; one of Archuleta's songs was penned by "Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi; and one fan's shirt bore the words, "I voted for David Archuleta."

Salt Lake Tribune

Video of Jimmy in South Devon, UK

Click on this link to see a review of Jimmy's performance in Chicago, and be sure to click the video link on that page to watch a piece on Jimmy while he was there.

http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/entertainment/Shimmering-Chicago-serves-goods/article-844317-detail/article.html

Pop singer turned country star Dan Seals dies at 61

CBC News

Dan Seals, right, and Marie Osmond, shown on Oct. 14 1986, accept the vocal duo of the year award during the Country Music Association awards show in Nashville, Tenn. (Associated Press)

Pop singer turned country star Dan Seals has died of complications of cancer. He was 61.

Seals died Wednesday at his daughter's home in Nashville, after a battle with lymphoma.

The brother of Jim Seals of Seals & Croft, Dan Seals sang under the name England Dan in the 1970s in a duo with John Ford Coley.

They had several hits, including I'd Really Like to See You Tonight, Nights are Forever and Love is the Answer.

Seals and Coley met in Dallas in 1968, playing in a rock band before perfecting their soft pop sound. The duo disbanded in 1980.

Seals then began a solo career, climbing the country charts with hits such as God Must Be a Cowboy, My Baby's Got Good Timing, Bop, and You Still Move Me.

His duet with Marie Osmond, Meet Me in Montana, was a chart-topper in 1985 and earned the pair a Country Music Association Award for best vocal duo.

Seals enjoyed a successful country career throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, but his soft country sound fell out of fashion in the 1990s and his popularity waned.

He continued to tour and released his last studio album, Make It Home, in 2002.

Born Danny Wayland Seals on Feb. 8, 1948, Seals grew up in a music-oriented family in McCarney, Texas.

He learned to play bass and both his brothers — Eddie and Jim — became musicians.

Our condolences go out to the Seals family at this time of loss.

A little bit rock 'n' roll - Stephen Craig

Times Daily.com

Music legacy produces a new heir

Daniel Giles/TimesDaily

Stephen Craig has been working on a new album at Noiseblock Studios in Florence. Craig is the son of Marie Osmond.

By Shelbia Brown
Staff Writer

Published: Friday, March 27, 2009 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, March 26, 2009 at 5:21 p.m.

Pop/rock artist Stephen Craig never went to senior prom and didn't play organized team sports like most boys.

But he said his life, which is deeply rooted in a musical legacy, was completely normal.

Craig, the 25-year-old son of Marie Osmond and nephew of Donny Osmond, released his debut album "That's What You Get" in 2003 in Japan. The album was recorded in the Shoals at Noise Block Studios in Florence.

Almost six years later, Craig came back to Florence for a sophomore album, which is currently untitled, that will be released first in the United Kingdom by late spring/early summer.

Craig now resides in Los Angeles but said he keeps coming to the Shoals for one main reason.

"I really like it here, genuinely," Craig said. "You can kind of come here and get away from everything."

He said the small-town appeal is conducive to a musical atmosphere.

Craig, who also plays acoustic guitar, said the second album is unique because

he had more involvement in the production and mixing phase.

"The writing was a big thing," he said.

Gary Baker, producer and owner of Noise Block Music Group, has known Craig since he was a child and traveled with Marie Osmond as a band musician.

"I kind of became his road dad," Baker said.

He also co-wrote the songs for the album. According

to Baker, the 12-track album includes two songs, "I Don't Want to Be a Hero" and "Sex, Politics and Money," that will be hits.

"They both have single potential," Baker said.

Throughout his 20-year, Grammy Award-winning career, Baker has worked with acclaimed artists including LeAnn Rimes, Jessica Simpson, Nick Lachey and All-4-One.

Though they work in a

professional capacity, Baker said Craig is more than just another artist in the studio.

"This has been a lot of fun because he is like an extended family member," Baker said. "He's like a son."

Craig credits his mom for helping him establish a sense of faith. The Osmonds were reared in a Mormon household, and Craig said those principles lead him in making decisions concerning

his music career.

"I try to adhere to all the rules of my faith," Craig said.

The Osmonds reached a pinnacle in their career in the 1970s, even recording at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals.

Craig said though his family offers help, he will not allow them to hold his hand.

"It's important, I think, to be your own person," he said.

Brandon is the WINNER!

Brandon Osmond came out the winner last night at the Mormon Times Showcase concert at the Covey Arts Center. Congratulations, Brandon!

A special Thank You to photographer Jeremy Hall who is allowing us to use his photo. To find out more about Jeremy and his photography, please visit his website: www.whatsgottastay.com

For more information about the event, visit Mormon Times:
http://www.mormontimes.com/arts_entertainment/music/?id=6824

Photo Copyright 2009 Jeremy Hall & Great Projects. Please do not redistribute, copy or republish in any manner without prior permission.

(Permission for use granted to the Osmond Family Blog: Strengthening Families from Jeremy Hall, 3/20/09)

David Osmond - Last Day

Sorry, I can't figure out how to turn this video the correct way! Thanks once more Laura H. for sharing your videos with us.

Second Generation Bein' Boys/Second Generation

Another shout out to Laura H.!

Second Generation Any Dream Will Do

Another video from Laura H.

Second Generation 1960-70s Medley

Video posted on You Tube from Laura H.
Thanks, Laura!

Brandon to Perform at Covey Center on Thursday

Brandon made it to the finals for the Showcase competition of the Mormon Times competition. The finalists will perform this Thursday at 7:30 at the Covey Center in Provo, Utah. Click on the link below to purchase tickets.

Mormon Times presents The Showcase Concert

Sponsored by Zions Bank

March 19
7:30 p.m.
$10 regular
$8 students/seniors/groups of 20 or more

Join us as we honor six of the greatest rising musicians!

The Final Six have fought their way to the top of a 3-month-long competition for the chance to win the grand prize of $5,000. The second place winner will receive $2,000, and third place will receive $1,000.

All six finalists will perform at this concert, and the winner will be announced!

http://www.coveycenter.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=264&Itemid=4

SCERA hosts Osmonds Second Generation in pair of concerts

Matt Reichman - Daily Herald

Considering the unending and unnatural supply of music running through their veins, one has to wonder whether the Osmond clan was not born, but maybe concocted in a lab experiment involving the von Trapp children from "The Sound of Music" and the Pontipee lumberjack brothers from "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers."

Osmondmania is still rolling thanks to the Osmonds Second Generation, which will be visiting the SCERA Center for the Arts this weekend.

"The family's spectacular showmanship seems to be imbedded in their DNA," Adam J. Robertson, SCERA's president and CEO, said in news release. "They are entertainers through and through."

The Osmonds Second Generation includes eight brothers -- Michael, Nathan, Doug, David, Scott, Alex, Jon and Tyler -- the sons of Alan Osmond, an original member of the famous family performing group.

Saturday's show, a one-night appearance, will feature classic group numbers, anything from a cappella to pop covers to selections from "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."

"Definitely a fun family show, and high energy for sure," said Nathan, the second oldest at 32, who sings and plays the piano in the group. "There will be some dancing in there. You never know what we'll have up our sleeves."

It will also showcase the solo careers of certain brothers, including country songs by Nathan and Doug, and a few numbers by David, who recently made it all the way to the Hollywood round on this season's "American Idol."

"I joke with people now that I've gone from being Donny's nephew to David's brother," said Doug, 31, and the drummer of the group. "There's total support between the brothers. No jealousy at all."

Michael, Nathan, Doug and David began as a quartet in the mid-80s, and the younger siblings joined later on. Fortunately for them, their father/mentor knew a little bit about the music game and has helped them succeed.

"We had a dance studio in our basement growing up," Doug said. "We'd get up early, early in the morning to rehearse our dances and instruments. My dad told us that if we're going to do this, we're going to do it right, and not ride on the name of what he and his brothers did."

However, despite their closeness, it's been over a decade since they've all been on the same stage.

"One of us is always on a mission," Doug said, referring to the two-year proselytizing missions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Since its inception, the group has traveled across the United States, and then on to Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Taiwan and more. Although the brothers love to play to the home crowd, performances in Utah are somewhat rare because they like to "keep Utah home," as Nathan put it.

Visit www.osmonds.com or www.2ndg.com to learn more.

If you go

The Osmonds Second Generation

When: Saturday at 7 and 9 p.m.

Where: The SCERA Center for the Arts, 745 S. State St., Orem

Tickets: $10 for adults, $8 for children, students with school IDs, and seniors. Early show is sold out, but tickets for the 9 p.m. show are still available.

Info: 801-225-ARTS, www.scera.org

Alan & Suzanne - Strengthening Families

Alan & Suzanne will be speaking at the Healthy Women Expo at Tooele High School at 7:00 p.m. on April 2nd. Their topic is "Strengthening Families" and there will be a question and answer sessions afterward.

Tickets are $15 each and include a buffet dinner from 5:00-6:45, prior to their presentation. Tickets can be purchased by phoning 801-843-3600 (Dial 0)
Monday-Friday 8 AM – 5 PM.

Last Day to Vote for Brandon!

Today is the LAST DAY to vote for Brandon!!! http://music.mormontimes.com/contest.php?id=2384&nocache=1 Let's get NOI-Z!!! Ha!

Marie Osmond: I'm at 'Total Peace' with Decision to Divorce

ET's Mary Hart sits down with Marie Osmond to talk about her divorce from husband Brian Blosil after a twenty year marriage. Marie also reveals, for the first time, if there was a prenup.

"I think I got to a point where I realized I wasn't being the best person or mother," Marie said of her choice to split from her spouse. "I was at total peace when I made that decision."

Marie goes into further detail about her divorce in her new book Might As Well Laugh About It Now, due out April 7.

Osmonds: Second Generation plus hear David's new single!

Come hear David's new single LIVE, and see the Osmonds: Second Generation in Concert at the Scera Theater, Orem, UT - March 14, 2009
7:00 Show SOLD OUT
9:00 Show just added.
For tickets:

http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?organ_val=22554&event_val=EC06

Brandon & Mormon Times

Don't forget to continue voting for Brandon in the Mormon Times contest. You can vote once per day until the end of the competition.

http://music.mormontimes.com/contest.php?id=2384&nocache=1

Video Game Bill

In behalf of our marketing site: http://thefamily.com , and our charity, http://OneHeart.org, our Board Member, Jack Thompson, alerted us about these issues and asked me to go to the Capital Building and “speak out” (http://getnoi-Z.com) and get this new bill passed.

Thanks,
Alan

Immediate News Release – March 3, 2009

Video Game/Movie Bill Passes in Utah House, 70-2

A bill drafted by Miami attorney Jack Thompson and sponsored by Utah Rep. Mike Morley, has today passed the Utah House of Representatives by a vote of 70-2. That’s seven touchdowns against one safety.

The measure, which was helpfully amended before it went to the full House, now goes to the Utah Senate for a vote without any Senate committee hearings.

The bill imposes sanctions against video game retailers and movie retailers and cinema operators who claim to age ID customers but do not uniformly do so. The bill amends Utah’s already existing Truth in Advertising Law, by making it an offense for a retailer to say it always age ID’s when it does it. Thus, the bill avoids all content-based, First Amendment arguments. This is a new and unique approach which should pass constitutional muster in any federal court challenge, unlike other “video game” laws.

Indeed, cinema owners, movie rental/sale retailers, and video game retailers all dropped their opposition to the bill. Key in this were recent United States Federal Trade Commission findings that movie and video game retailers routinely ignore their public promises to age-ID for purchases of Mature-rated games and a Restricted (R-rated) movie tickets and movies.

Presently, BestBuy.com, WalMart.com, Target.com, GameStop.com, and other major on-line retailers make absolutely no attempt whatsoever to verify the age of on-line customers. This reckless practice must now stop in sales to Utahns.

Testifying in the House Committee for the bill was Alan Osmond, the eldest of the Osmond brothers. This was sweet irony, as the Osmonds’ song “Traffic in My Mind” was once sought by the makers of the hyper-violent and pornographic Grand Theft Auto games for use in their games routinely sold to children. The Osmonds appropriately declined.

This vote today is particularly gratifying to Jack Thompson, who has been under constant siege by the video game industry since his appearance on 60 Minutes on March 5, 2005. Thompson is preparing a state lawsuit in that regard, and he has just filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme to challenge his disbarment at the request of the makers of the Grand Theft Auto games.

This legislation will likely become a model for federal legislation on this issue. It threatens the entertainment industry’s long-standing assault upon minors with its adult products. More coverage: http://www.gamepolitics.com/2009/03/03/breaking-jack-thompson-bill-under-discussion-utah-house.

He who laughs last laughs best, and nobody at Take-Two, the makers of the Grand Theft Auto games, is laughing this evening.

Contact Jack Thompson for more information at 305-666-4366, amendmentone@comcast.net <mailto:amendmentone@comcast.net>