The original Osmond Brothers are closing in on 50 years in the entertainment business.
Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay formed the quartet that began singing barbershop in 1957. Since their debut on "The Andy Williams Show" some 45 years ago, the brothers have been in the public eye.
But more often than not nowadays, the foursome is often three-quarters or half what it used to be. Not in energy or enthusiasm — but in numbers.
Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 18 years ago, Alan rarely goes on stage anymore, though he did join his brothers in a performance for Queen Elizabeth last fall. That doesn't mean he isn't busy, though.
Jay has launched a new career outside music. Youngest brother Jimmy, too, is taking time off from singing in the family's Branson, Mo., theater.
"I thought it was time to take a little break," said Jimmy, 41.
But he won't be idle for the next few months. He's headed to London to star in "Boogie Nights," featuring 1970s disco music, six days a week. He also continues to keep his hand in real estate and entertainment production as the owner of two theaters in Branson.
"One of these days, I'll figure out what I like," he said.
That leaves the performing to Wayne, 52, and Merrill, 51. In addition to singing together, they go solo as well, doing shows on cruise ships and other venues.
This July 24 might be the last time the original Osmond Brothers, minus Alan, perform on stage together in Utah. Wayne, Merrill and Jay will hook up for a concert at the SCERA Theater in Orem. Jay intends to do a show or two here and there after that, but he's had enough of life on the road.
"I'm not totally pulling out of show business yet. But I'm starting to," he said.
He doesn't expect to perform past the brothers' golden anniversary in 2007.
"I don't know about Donny and Marie or the brothers, but that's the case for me. They'll probably go on until they are 90."
Jay lives in a modest house in Highland with his wife and three children. He's taking home study courses from Brigham Young University toward a degree in communications.
At age 49, he has embarked on a new career selling real estate with the firm his father started 25 years ago. He listed his first house just last month.
"So far I'm loving it. It's exciting," he said. "I'm a little bit overwhelmed, but I like the challenge. I'm determined to learn it."
One thing he learned quickly was where he can and can't put up signs. He posted Osmond Real Estate arrows around Highland pointing the way to the home he has for sale. He called police to report them stolen after seeing someone taking them down. Turned out it was a City Council member enforcing an ordinance prohibiting such signage in the city.
Still, the enthusiastic rookie Realtor has a chance in the business, according to his mentor, 22-year real-estate veteran Fay Jones.
Alan, 55, too, has turned to other endeavors. He's fond of saying, "I may have MS, but MS does not have me."
Signs of the debilitating disease were evident on a recent day as he haltingly made his way from the basement in the upscale Orem twin home where he lives with wife Suzanne and the two youngest of eight sons. A cane rested against a roll-top desk in the finely furnished living room. He taught himself to use his left hand to compensate for the paralysis on his right side.
A former neighbor on Osmond Lane recently called to persuade them to move back into their 17,000-square-foot home on the gated street. They weren't interested. "We have really simplified," Alan said.
Alan and Suzanne wrote a series of children's books called "Twice Upon a Time," sequels to classic fairy tales like "The Three Little Pigs."
They're working with a company in China to animate the stories for DVD as well as write several new ones. Alan is writing the music.
Alan also is writing a book tentatively title, "Life is TUFF," TUFF being an acronym for Target, You, Focus and Fight. It will deal with ways to cop with the "gotchas" in life that try to slow you down, he said.
Religion plays a large role in Alan's life, as it does with all of his brothers and sister. An Internet junkie, much of his Web site is devoted to family and LDS themes.
"We don't want to be the Osmonds. We want to be grandparents. We want to be missionaries. We want to live our lives and let the next generation do their thing."
E-mail: romboy@desnews.com