Who needs Donny and Marie?
Merrill, Jay and Jimmy Osmond took over the Savannah Center Sunday and sang a little bit country and a lot of rock and roll.
The three brothers from the famous family thoroughly entertained two shows filled with loyal and boisterous fans. Part of the proceeds went to Child Fund International, thanks to Villages’ singing star Fernando Varela, who organized the concert.
The Osmonds seem to have been around forever, dating back to the Andy Williams TV program in the early ‘60s. The little boys grew up became rock stars and were eventually joined by their sister, Marie. Donny was a certified teen idol back in the ‘70s and is best known these days for winning the title on the show, “Dancing With the Stars.”
“He sleeps with that mirror-ball trophy,” Jimmy cracked.
As for Marie: “We all know what we’re going to get every Christmas – Nutrisystem,” Jimmy said.
The Osmonds have always been known for their squeaky-clean image and sweet family harmony.
“So I walk into a bar,” Jimmy told the audience to start a story. “Get it?—that’s the joke an Osmond walking into a bar.”
These three white dudes from Utah showed some soul during the concert. They opened with “Get Ready” and would later cover “Soul Man,” “I Want You Back” and “ABC.” Fans were hooting and hollering and would often sing-a-long.
“The Villages is one of our favorite places,” Jimmy said warming up to the crowd. “There’s so much to do here. We’re going to move here.”
It could get crowded because Jimmy said there are eight Osmond boys and one sister — Marie.
The show had a Branson/Vegas lounge atmosphere. There were plenty of glitzy dance moves, interaction with the people in the seats and lots of reminiscing with old videos shown on a screen near the back of the stage.
You can watch a short video clip from the concert at the Villages-News.com Facebook page at the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/TheVillagesNews?ref=hl
One of the best numbers of the night came midway through the show when they sang an original number, “Remember Me.” The song was soft, tender and eloquent. It sounded pitch perfect.
At times, the event seemed more like a family reunion than a concert. The old home movies and family stories fit right in with the music.
“This was my dad’s favorite song,” Merrill said, as he went into a heartfelt version of “The Impossible Dream.” Then the boys sang their mom’s special number: “I Can’t Live a Dream.”
The brothers showcased most of the Osmonds’ big rock/pop hits from the ‘70s. The listed included, “What Are You Doing Tonight,” “Yo-Yo,” “One Bad Apple” and “Down By the Lazy River.”
Some of the best harmony came on a barbershop harmony number called “The Auctioneer.” The brothers also shined on the gospel-flavored “I Believe.” They also sang an a cappella special request of “I Wouldn’t Trade the Silver in My Mother’s Hair.”
Time has not dimmed the Osmond harmony but some things have changed. “An elderly lady came up to me today,” Merrill said. “She got real close to me and said, ‘Are you an Osmond?’ I told her yes. Then she said: ‘You don’t look so good close up.’”
Age didn’t matter to the fans at the show.
“We expect a lot from them because this is reliving our youth,” Villager Sue Gronau said. “That music was a special part of our lives and they were part of it, too.”
It was special night for Bud Weigand who lives in Duval. He toured with an opening act for the Osmonds back in the early ‘70s. He now plays in a couple local bands: Rock and Roll With a Purpose and the Hampton Singers.
“The Osmonds were great back then and they still have that great harmony,” said Weigand, who played lead guitar for the group, Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods. “It was an outstanding show and I think that’s what people expect from the Osmonds.”
After the show, Jay Osmond met with Weigand and they shared some memories. “It was just like old times,” Weigand said.
