Heroes in Business - Jimmy Osmond President Osmond Entertainment

Episode Date: November 15, 2024

Jimmy Osmond President of Osmond Entertainment is interviewed by David Cogan of Eliances Heroes radio show. They discuss what it was like for Jimmy growing up the youngest Osmond in such a prominent family of world recognized entertainers. Osmond now manages the family business and also took over operations and performance at the Andy Williams Performing Arts Center in Branson Missouri. 

Welcome back to Alliances Heroes, where heroes in business align. To be part of our super community and find out more about Alliances, visit www.alliances.com. Now, back to our super host, David Kogan, founder of Alliances. I know, everybody's thinking, how do you get these most incredible guests? Well, I'll tell you, it just keeps getting better and better. We had the NHRA funny race car driver, daughter of John Paul DeJorian, Alexis DeJoria. We just had live in the studio the founder of FreeConferenceCall.com, Dave Erickson. And next, we have...

Before I tell you, here, let's go right into it. Imagine growing up with a family of nine brothers and sisters. Now imagine that all of them are in the entertainment business and singing together. Our next hero is a legend, Jimmy Osmond of the Osmond Brothers. And he can be reached at JimmyOsmond.com or you can go to our website, alliances.com. Many of you know he is also the youngest of the Osmonds. Now tell me, Jimmy, exactly how old were you when you first performed in front of a crowd? And, I mean, do you remember exactly what it must have felt like?

I kind of grew up in a weird way, but it's great to be with you, my friend. Thanks for having me on. But I started when I was three, and it was there in Las Vegas with Andy Williams, and then we ended up doing his TV show. So my first television appearance was when I was three years old. My brothers were already regulars in the featured act on his show, Walt Disney, that had discovered them previously.

And I thought every kid did what I did. And I just jumped in and became kind of the mascot, the one bad apple guy of the family. But it's been a crazy ride. Who would have thought 50 years later I'd end up owning Andy's Theater and producing these shows that he wanted me to do. It's just been a full circle, amazing ride. It really has. Oh, I can imagine. And so surreal.

I mean, at what point, though, do you think one knows they have what it takes to be an entertainer and able to really have a career? I mean, here you started three years old in front of a crowd and on TV in front of millions. How do you know? Well, I don't know if you ever do know. I think it's stage time is what I call it. I mean, you know, there's a lot of artists you see on these reality shows that come out, and they do really well with one song. But there's a lot more, in my opinion.

The way we grew up, kind of a vaudevillian in a way. We did variety television. We did musical theater. We had to reinvent ourselves so many times to have a career that lasts. And more importantly, stage time with a live audience because you know right then what works, what doesn't work. Because people are so smart. They can spot a phony anywhere. And if you're in it just to be famous, you're not going to last.

You need to be there for them because they're the reason you're even on stage. And if you ever lose that concept, you know, you can kind of fall off the rails pretty easy. Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. Yet you continue to do so much more. You're now your president of Osmond Entertainment. You even, I mean, developed, you supervised most of the Osmond's merchandising business, producing hundreds of hours of programming for networks like ABC, PBS, Disney Channel.

I mean, Jimmy, though, where do you, where did you... Don't believe everything you read. Oh, it's all over. You know what, it's just about... I mean, where do you learn it? I knew that the show business would last for me, though. I really didn't. And so I was always open to trying all the different facets of a business called show that I loved.

And thanks to Andy Williams, again, you know, everybody needs somebody to stick their neck out for them. And Andy did that for us. stick their neck out for them. And Andy did that for us. And we got to work with people that we called Uncle So-and-So that were actually turned out to be the Frank Sinatra or Elvis Presley or whatever, because they were all guests on his variety show and we got to work with them. And so, you know, being mentored at that level, more so my brothers than I, because I was the youngest. I came on later, but I was still around all that. It was just a real blessing, you know. I mean, let's talk about that.

And again, your current show, Moon River and Me, it is at the Andy Williams Theater. And again, you can reach Jimmy Osmond by going to jimmyosmond.com or alliances.com, E-L-I-A-N-C-E-S.com, because you're listening to the Alliances Heroes Show. Be a hero. Go to be part of the community with me because you're listening to the Alliances Heroes show. Be a hero. Go to be part of the community with me, David Kogan at Alliances. How do you know you talked about him and having him as a mentor? Why is it so important for people to have a mentor like you have had with Andy Williams?

Well, I think it's fun to be involved in something that's bigger than you. And I think that's always been what Andy felt. I mean, he made everybody on stage feel like they were the star when it was really him, you know. And I think it's important to have somebody teach you the ropes and to show you the way rather than just tell you. And that's what Andy did for us. And the tour that you mentioned, it's been on tour in America. The last U.S. dates are in Las Vegas coming up here on the 17th and 18th. And then I go to Europe, and we go do 27 shows there.

And then we come back to the Christmas shows at my theater at the Andy Williams Performing Arts Center. And that's become a tradition. It really has. I mean, Andy, before he passed away, wanted me to keep it going because it's been going since the 60s. And people show up, young and old alike, that love that 60s vibe. They come and they just expect it every year. And it's been a real challenge and a real opportunity and blessing to be able to produce and continue that legacy. I love it. I love it. Your father, the late George Osmond, I mean, at the time he had nine children, 55 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren, and probably more.

And we're just getting started. I know. I'm thinking probably more since this interview has even been going on the time that we've been in this interview right you know and i'm not gonna i'm not gonna ask you how you can remember everyone's name or birthday because it'd be impossible but what kind of values did your father instill in you and your siblings that made you who you are and such a strong contributor to society. Well, you talk about heroes. You know, my dad was amazing. He was kicked out, lived on his own when he was like 14 years old. He grew up in such a hard way.

He was a military army sergeant. And my mom was this educator. She was a schoolteacher. And the combination was magic. Discipline, love, total acceptance, validation of each one of us. We all felt like we were their favorites. But my dad, and I mentioned this earlier about Andy, but more so than to he grew up the hard way and he served our country every time people come to my theater um you know we have a lot of veterans i think we celebrate veterans better than anywhere else in the country because we just you know branson's built on that you got in country and and that you know whole era of military service. And he believed every day should be Veterans Day, and he instilled in us a respect for

how we treat each other. I think it's critical in this life, especially you turn on the media with all that's going on in the world, the politics and the crazy things that are going on. in the world, you know, the politics and the crazy things that are going on. People have lost, or we've, a lot of people haven't, but some people in the media have lost that respect for each other and how we treat each other. And he always instilled that in us. He said, you know what, son, no matter if you go up and down this road of success, you have hit records or whatever, remember the people that brought you to the dance because eventually they're going to be the ones in charge and you'll have a long

career. Oh, absolutely. You're nice to people. Yeah, absolutely. And, you know, I'm getting a lot of texts now, too. And a lot of them are, quite a few want to know, they want to ask, they want to ask this one question. Every time that they see you, okay, every time that they see you, whether it's in interviews or anywhere, including even now, they want to know, you always are smiling, and

they want to know what makes you smile, because you are always smiling, which brings joy. Well, you know, I got a lot to work on as a person, but I do have something going for me, and that is a belief that there's a God that loves each and every one of us, that there's more to this life than just getting something for yourself. And I really believe I've been so blessed to have, I guess, survived show business because it's such a phony business, but to still have my family relationships intact, to have a beautiful wife and four kids and a fun cute little puppy dog and still do what i love every day what is there not to smile about but you know i think abraham lincoln said you're only as happy as you make up your mind to be and i decide to be happy

because you know happiness breeds positivity it breeds success because people want to be around somebody that's positive and isn't feeling sorry for themselves. We've had plenty of things go wrong in our lives, but I just choose to be happy because God's given me a lot. Absolutely. I mean, Jimmy, I grew up watching you on TV with your siblings. Your family is the stuff of Americana. An entertainer gives their heart and soul to the audience and keeps innovating to make sure they come back for more. You also share your knowledge with others managing the family business.

You're a hero. Jimmy Osmond at jismyosmond.com. David Kogan with E-Liances.