Welcome Mr. Osmond to my radio show here at Hit Radio Enterprise 103.
Hello my dear friend Michel! How are you doing?

I’m fine, how are you today ?
Great, It’s raining in Branson Missouri, and the fire place is going and I’m talking to a good friend and to millions of other people listening so I’m in a good spirit right now.

You are in a good spirit right now? We’re also in a good spirit because we have received al lot of questions from your fans in Belgium and the Netherlands. You’re coming in March next year to Belgium. Your fans they’ve emailed a lot of questions. They all wonder how you are?
I’m doing great. I never felt better in my life. I lost a lot of weight. I’m not on any more of my … you know I used to have a lot of medical issues, depression and that kind of stuff and even diabetic condition but I’m off all of it. I’m on all natural stuff. I lost weight, my hair is still grey ha-ha, but I’m feeling fine. I really am, I’m feeling good.

Nice to hear that from you. Okay, shall I start with the first question your fans asked?
Okay.

Okay. First question. Do you have other hobby's which you like to do ... maybe like sports, riding your motorbike or anything else?
That’s interesting. You know, I have a motorcycle.  I love my motorcycle. Wayne makes fun of me because he says I ride it to much I guess…  but I love riding the motorcycle, I love to fish, I love to paint, I’m working on a whole new set of paintings right now that are going to come out on my new book I’ m working on … and … I’m also getting my licence which…, my mum always used to say, Merrill, you should have been a doctor you know, so, I love medicine. I love the healing process, so I ‘m getting my licence in message therapy even, because I believe in that healing touch concept, so I’ve got a lot of hobby’s. I could go on and on, but yeah, I keep myself pretty busy.

How did you get the idea to come to Belgium after so many years?
Well, it’s interesting. You know, I really believe there’s no accident to anything, that’s my philosophy, there’s a reason why everything happens in our lives. There are two little gals in Belgium Jenny and Mimi, I met them when I was over there doing the tour last year and they came to me and looked me in the eyes and said would you please come to Belgium if we put the effort. I looked at them and the feeling came over me and I said, yeah I will, and that’s how it happened and now to see all coming the way it is and the people that are involved, it’s just a miracle. It should not happen that way but it did, and I’m sure glad it did and they have done a great job.

In March next year you will give a benefit concert there?
Yes and I’m ready. I‘ve got the band working on all kind of new songs and ideas. I don’t know how long the concert will last, but I would like it to last until everybody is completely full and happy and satisfied and you know I just feel that this is one concert that there’s somebody coming that needs this for all of the right reasons. I don’t know why I feel that, but this is a very rare concert, a one of a kind concert, and I want to make sure that this one person that’s coming is gonna get what there caricatured coming for, so, watch out.

Okay I will be there too.
During the concert in Tongeren, is there anything particular you would like the fans to do? Sing, dance or do you prefer a more quit audience?
Oh no. You know, I think it was Scotland last year, I don’t know, I forgot, Yes I think it was Scotland, the audience was so willing to chant, to just have fun and dance. I said come on up and let’s dance. And they came up on the stage even and they started to dance to “Crazy Horses” and other songs I did and the place just ignited, and to me, we’re there to have a party and I just hope that everybody has fun. And don’t worry about how it looks. Just have fun. And lets have a good old time out there.

This year, in the UK, some girls messed up your hair during the concert. How do you feel about fans being pushy and "crossing the line".
Oh my goodness, you know, first of all, I’m the kind of person, all of my brothers are, I particular, love to get out into the audience. I went out during a song called “Check it Out” and they were grabbing my hair, they were pulling me close, they were kissing me, and you know what? I just had the greatest time! So if that’s crossing the line then so be it, because I thought it was wonderful, we all had a great time, we really did.

It depends on what situation?
Absolutely, I mean, my goodness, you know if this is a concert, I mean, who knows this could be the last concert. You never know what’s going to happen, what the destiny is and so who’ll all gonna be there I want them to come, knowing that we’re going to have a good time. We’re gonna sing songs, we’re gonna dance, we’re gonna cry, we’re gonna laugh, we’re just gonna have a wonderful time. The band is ready, there roaring. Wayne will be with me and it’s just gonna be, and my daughter Heather will be with me for sure, the issue of my brother Jay isn’t for sure yet but it’s not a no either. So, it’s getting exiting.

A lot of people are asking if Jay is coming to Belgium.
Yeah, that’s what I’ m saying, it’s not a yes or a no at this point. Jay, … Jay surprisingly has so many commitments. He’s got himself involved in a tremendous amount of issues now with his new area he’s working on, his real estate issues, but if he can break away I know that he’ll come and he wants to come. Jay is the kind of person that loves his fans and … so we’ll see, but I can’t for sure guarantee that.

Why aren't all the LP's from the Osmonds available on CD? Are you holding this back? It's too crazy for words that The Osmonds are the only artists who have not done this.
You know something, that’s been the biggest dilemma of my life. I have gotten into this a hundred times with, you know, different manufactures and different labels, so many of our projects and products are attached to different contracts with different companies. It’s very difficult to try to bring everybody together on that. I know there’s a real effort right now on the way to get Mike Curb to release, for a world wide release, for the projects that everybody is asking for and Mike Curb is starting to work with this a lot better then he has in the past, so we’ll see my friend, but it is frustrating.

Why is the concert in Belgium and not The Netherlands?
Ah, well, there is also another series of discussing that I’m going go into later into today, later today even, that might answer all of that. We’re trying to put together a series of concerts before or even after the Belgium concert that might accomplish a lot of that, so, but again, nothing is firmed up yet for sure, but the Belgium thing is definitely coming and it’s going to happen, so come on and see it.

Do you have a particular Osmond song which you would call your favourite? If so, which one and why?
Well, there’s so many but if I had to pick one I would probably pick “Love me for a Reason”. Cause it’s been across the board, people love the song, it never fails. They all sing it with me in the middle of the show. I love what it says, it’s easy to sing, and when you sing it the spirit is there, and that’s probably my favourite.

How is the family dealing with losing mother Osmond?
My mother made me a promise before she left. I remember sitting there with her at her bedside, she squeezed my hand and she said: “I’ll never leave you” and I’m here to tell you Michel that she has not left me. And whether it’s in a dream, or impressions, or, … but my mother is my mother and she’ll always be my mother for eternity and I just know her spirit and it’s her spirit has not left.

How is your father doing about it?
My dad is doing fine. He’s enjoying a little gardening up at his little ranch home. He travels a lot, I think he’s over in England with Donny this week, I’m not positive, but I think that’s what I heard. But he’s doing fine, he has great attitude, his health is pretty sensitive but other then that he’s doing fine.

Next year when you give the benefit concert in Belgium it’s already 30 years ago since you last were in Belgium. Do you have any memories from way back?
Oh man, I think, what I remember is Antwerp, ehm … Arena hall, and I remember how incredible it was, man, and I’m still feeling that it’s still the same way it is as far the energy levels of the kids. I remember how green it was over there. I’ll never forget that. I remember getting of the bus and looking around and think how beautiful that place was. So I’m anxious to come back and take some pictures, I love photography too by the way, I love taking my camera.

Hey, can I just say something too Michel that’s on my mind, and I don’t know exactly what I’m going to say here, but there is somebody listening right now  who’s very ill, who’s very sick, and her name is Brigitte.

Brigitte?
Yes, and I want her to know that I’m coming over there and I want to meet her and I want her to know that she’s not alone, and to remain strong, and God loves her and I love her and that she’s going to be ok. I just felt that I wanted to say that.

Okay, I hope she listens to this. So you will come and visit her?
Yeah, I want to see her in a “one to one”

Do you like to perform rather a solo act or as a group?
You knew Michel, It’s been interesting over what? 48 years? I’ve done everything to work with the brothers, to circuses, to home tabernacle choirs, I’ve done my own thing. Everything is just different. I love the stage. I love the environment of the stage. I love working with my brothers cause we’ve worked together for so long. I know exactly what they’re thinking - what they're doing.

If there not there,  I’ve got this great band called “the Black Bear Band” who have been working with me, who are like my brothers now too, who are ready, at a drop of the hat, to do the kind of songs that need to be done.

I’m a rocker, I love rock and roll, I love the ballads, but if you put me in an environment what ever it is, were we’re rocking, I’m there.

How does it feel to know that your fans from 30 years back are still there?
Oh the fans, well, it never ever seizes. I mean I’m getting a million hits on my website just from people wanting to know more and more and more. I mean, I found out that, I guess Donny’s record is in the top 10 over in England and Jimmy’s over in England and he’s telling me, every night he’ll send me an email, and he’ll say how incredible things are over there in Blackpool.  I mean, Ireland  the Scandinavian countries, the kind of mail and email we’re getting constantly verifies that the ground fall has not ceased, in fact it’s growing.

You use email a lot?
You know what I do? I have something that I make available to anybody who wants to call. It costs a little bit of money, but if someone wants to talk to me on occasion, I arrange a phone call, or if something is important to me and I feel spiritual touched by it, I’ll personally email somebody something. I believe in that, I believe we’re here for a purpose and if I can help bless somebody’s life just by a hug, or a phone call, or an email, I’m going to do it. However it looks, or however it looks like, sometimes it’s not my problem. What I want to do is I want to be there for people who need me.

If you could start all over with your life, would you do it again, choose for a life in show business?
It’s been a tough life. I have not known anything else. I started off when I was 4 years old Michel, and I’ve been working ever since. I’ve always wanted to be a doctor. I mean I’ve studied the book. I’m still going to class like I mentioned about the healing techniques, and so forth, but I honestly, I probably would do it again, just the same way. I would have made a few different choices a long the way, but I think I would still stay in the music. I love writing, love creating, love the whole concept of the arts, so I probably would do the same thing.

What was (were) the highlight(s) in your career? In your life?
The highlights, I think, oh boy, the highlights would probably be centred around the mania that occurred in the 70ties and the 80ties. Whether it was in New York at Madison square Garden or at Manchester when every chair in the house was broken. I could not believe my eyes, when I used to look out there and see the emotions in the eyes and those screams of the kids, and that emotion, still exist in some small way within their lives.

The highlight also came for me when I got married and have my little family. Every one of those lives have touched my life. I could go on and on. I’ve produced presidential Inaugurals for presidents. Met the Queen of England. I actually stuck my tongue out there, that story is a whole other story, which I did not do on purpose obviously, but the highlight was when the Queen came to me this last little visit in Scotland and I said do you remember that, she chuckled, she said yes, I do.

Little things like that, I guess, just add it up to make it a very interesting life for me.

You have also a very strong faith.
Yes.

But being the man you are, women throw themselves at your feet. Were you ever temped?
I’m a red blooded American man. And all I can say about that is, God know what he was doing when he created a woman. And, I would not be human if I didn’t feel the concept of this temptation on the way. Am I a strong man, Yes, I feel I am a strong man.  I understand and  believe and will adhere to certain rules and regulations.

But when it comes to the concept of temptation obviously, yes, I mean, I just wouldn’t be alive if it didn’t happen, so yeah, I guess the answer would be yes. 

You started your career at a very young age.  How much has started to perform at a young age effected your life. What would you like to do besides being a singer and entertainer?
Well, the thing that I’m not sure was the greatest therapy in the world was to start so young because you never had a youth, you never had a teenage life. You never really had the opportunity to date or to just make a mistake even, you know. You lived in a bubble. And that bubble carried us all the way through on a good side of it. You look back and see the amount of good that was been able to occur. I mean, today, the family is working with the largest charity in the world called The Children’s Miracle Network raising billions of dollars. I mean, the good, I think outweighed the negative side of it.

I would of liked to probably have had more friends in my life at a younger age. I would have liked to gotten out and played a little bit. But playing never was a part of the programme, it was all work. But I love my parents, I love my brothers, and I love my sister and I love my friends and my family today, so I’m sort of making up for it.

Has there ever been a point in your life when you thought you couldn’t sing.
I thought about that a few times, my dear friend, I thought about that when I was at a check-out mode at Duke University, when they said you only have a couple months to live. And I thought for sure that was the point in which I was going to hang everything up, but God had something else in store for me. And that didn’t happen and in fact I overcame a lot of problems man and I think I’m going to be singing until he takes my voice. I think I‘m just going to be singing. And I love to sing.

You mother past away this year. We know she’s been very important to you and your brothers and sister. What’s your most memorable memory of her? Are there things in life that she told you and you are teaching your children for nowadays?
There is so many. My mother and I were extremely close. My mother and I were always hovering in a spiritual round or a dimension which so many people could not quit understand, even with inside the family type. My mother and I always spoke almost in parable because we felt the spirit of a higher teacher and so when you start talking to me about what she past on to me, she past on to me, the riches of spiritual thought and one thing that she always, she was an optimist, she never ever would allow anybody in the family to give up, it didn’t matter what happened, whether you were depressed, or you failed in this, she would always say, do not give up, believe in yourself and this too shall pass, this too shall pass. And she was always right, she was the anchor, she had the faith to believe in, and when people that knew her, embraced that, then coincidently they too were able to get pass some of their issues, so, she was just one of a kind, and I’m so grateful that she was my mother because she gave me some of the greatest gifts that anybody could ever receive.

You’re coming to Belgium in March 2005. Does the concert in Belgium means that in the future the Osmonds also will come to the Netherlands?
That’s definitely on our map. That’s a place that we must visit again and we will visit there again. Absolutely.

How many times did you visit the Netherlands?
I know we’ve been there a couple of times over the years.

You were once in a TV show a very long time ago. It was called “Een van de Acht”, “One of the Eight”.
Really?

Do you remember that?
I do, I do, we were quit young I remember. Yeah, that was in the 70ties … I think. Yeah … possibly.

About the CD Never say Never. In the UK it’s launched. The rest of Europe, will the CD also be available?
"Never Say Never," that is a definitely, let us put it this way,  I know we’re working on that trying to make sure that there’s product there for that show, for that concert. So, that will be our intent to have it there.

Okay so we can expect that it very soon I think.

It’s been wonderful, I’ve been listening to the programme before you got on, very, very impressive what you guys do over there.
Yeah, I’m a very hardworking DJ. Thank you for the compliment.

Your daughter Heather has a beautiful voice. Has she plans to make a CD in the future?
She’s working on a  CD this week in fact, you know. There’s a couple record labels that are interested in Heather right now. She has everything it takes in my opinion to do what has to be done. It’s just that eh .. is she ready for it and does she wants to do that, because I think she’s awesome. She’ll be coming over there too, she will be performing with us.

Yeah, I know, I know. She will be in Belgium also. Will she sing that evening ?
I’m sorry?

Will she also sing at that concert?
You’ll see Wayne. Wayne, my brother will be there. Wayne is coming over. He’s ready. He’s ready, he’s ready to rock and roll.

Ready to rock and roll?
Yes sir!

Have you already plans to make a new CD?
A new CD? Well, I’m working, I’m always working, I have got another couple projects working right now. I’m working on a Christmas CD that I’m very excited about. I’m also working on a big band CD. I love big band, so yeah, I’m working on a couple of new projects right now.

Some fans say that your website is very fresh, good looking. Do you read the guest book on the website.
I read it. I read everything. There isn’t one entry that I do not read. Teresa Heard, my assistant, has done a good job putting that website together. I don’t know, I just, … I don’t respond to everything, but I do read everything. That gives me an inside about what is really going on out there.

The Sunday, after your concert in Tongeren in Belgium, you’ll give a fireside. In July you gave in the USA, you have brought a totally week-end with fans. Why do you find it important to stay, on this manor, in contact with your fans.
We’ll, my friend, here’s the issue, you know for me we only have so much time on this planet, and if somebody had some knowledge that was important and they just held it and never share it that would be sad. I just feel that I have been thru enough stuff and experience what I have experienced that there’s somebody that would might like to hear about that stuff.

When it comes to relationships, when it comes to parenting, when it comes to understanding the spirit that directs us on this planet, or let suppose that somebody may be suffering with abuse issues, or feeling not loved for what ever reason, I have a chance in that environment during a fireside to express some of my feelings about that. To maybe share a little knowledge or information that they might get a little healing from and that’s why I like doing that. It takes it out of the normal realm of in trying to entertain somebody. In fact, I even ask for questions and answers in that environment and it’s amazing what kind of questions you get, but that’s why I do it.

I think the last question. What’s the most weird present that you ever got from a fan?
The weirdest present, would probably be, the box that was mailed to us. And inside the box were 2 fans. Literally. 2 fans had mailed themselves to us. And when the box arrived, I guess it’s a 3 days delivery they were in that box for 3 days. And the security opened it up, and bless their little hearts, that was the only way that their were going to see The Osmonds but they saw the Osmonds. That was probably the strangest present …

I can imagine that! People hiding themselves in boxes and sent them to the post?
Yes, ha ha!

Weird. Strange people.

Is there anything you want to say to all the listeners, to all your fans at this moment Merrill?
There are no words to express, and those who know me know my heart, there are no words to express the love I have for you personally. For the years of dedication and the support you’ve given this family. I want to give back in some small way a little bit of that love during this Belgium concert.

I want to thank Jenny and Mimi for their undying efforts to making it happen.
And it’s gonna happen and we’re gonna rock an roll, we’re gonna party until, … until the cows come home.
So get ready we’re going to have some fun.

Very Nice words. |
Merrill I thank you for this interview, and I will be at the concert in Tongeren in Belgium.

Thank you dear fiend come on back.

Okay, Bye bye.

Mr. Osmond thanks for the interview, okay, have a nice day, bye bye …..

Thanks to Jenny for the transcript!