In this day and age it is a phenomenal task for larger families to stick together in relative harmony, let alone a group of musicians, 50 years on from their first television exposure, to still be performing and able to display all the developments and changes which have occurred throughout this time.

Long before the term ‘Boy Band’ was coined America produced two around about the same time. The Jackson Five and The Osmonds and although individuals from both families are still performing, it is The Osmonds who are still touring the world celebrating 50 years in show business.

Despite growing up with the Osmonds (being the same age as Donny) I first saw an Osmond live in 2003 with Merrill’s solo tour in the Rothes Halls Glenrothes. I then went to see The Royal Variety Performance at the Festival Theatre Edinburgh where Donny was on the bill, to my shock, surprise and delight he was joined by his brothers, next was Donny at Edinburgh Castle, then Wayne, Merrill, Jay and Jimmy at the Playhouse Theatre in Edinburgh and finally  the brothers joined at last by sister Marie on their current 50^th Anniversary Tour 2008.

As we would expect from a group of perfectionists the show was superb from start to finish, although it only seemed to be going strong when they announced the final number before the encore. The show is designed and presented in such a way that it was almost a potted history of the band reprising many of the best loved numbers, through little glimpses of each brother’s personal solo works and showing us less known numbers that have special meaning to the family.  It is obvious by the demeanours, smiles and attitudes of everyone on stage they were there because they love to perform together and that they all get so much genuine joy and delight from the reaction and feedback from the audiences. Not one person on that stage could be said to be just going through the motions.

As with any family they have had their share of sadness including, cancer, divorces, Multiple Sclerosis and family deaths, they continue to perform for the joy of it and for the delight for their many fans. I for one hope they go on and on and that I get the opportunity to see them perform again.  Despite what anyone might say The Osmonds still are the number one ‘Boy Band’ as far as this young at heart teenager is concerned.

For further information on the tour see www.osmonds50th.com or any of the individual Osmond brothers websites.