Osmond dons songwriter hat

Donny Osmond will perform his new tunes at the Birchmere May 10

BY EMILY GILMORE

Date published: 5/5/2005

By EMILY GILMORE

THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Donny Osmond has worn many hats over his 42-year performing career, from teen idol to game-show host.

Everyone knows at least part of the story.

He made his debut in 1963 at age 6, singing with several of his brothers on "The Andy Williams Show" before becoming a hit recording artist and sending teenage girls into frenzies in the 1970s.

His teen-idol status was cemented while he hosted a variety show with his sister and released more albums, both solo and with Marie.

He continued to record throughout the 1980s, and the 1990s saw Osmond take up musical theater in the title role in American and Canadian touring productions of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."

Osmond returned to the small screen in 1998 to host a talk show with his sister, Marie, and he was host of the game show "Pyramid" from 2002 to 2004.

Now Osmond can add songwriter to his resume.

He released his 54th album, "What I Meant to Say," this year--an accomplishment in itself. More significantly, this is the first album Osmond wrote himself.

"I wish I would have started [writing] earlier," he said in a recent phone interview. "It's a whole lot different feeling when you get there onstage and you sing the song and you own it."

Osmond is touring the United States and the United Kingdom in support of his latest effort, of which he is extremely proud. He will perform "An Intimate Evening of Music with Donny Osmond" at the Birchmere in Alexandria on Tuesday.

"When I put this show together, I wanted the music and the lyrics to stand out as much as possible," he said. "After doing this for 42 years, I realized people don't walk out humming the lights."

Four musicians will join Osmond onstage as he plays piano on songs from his entire career, but the main focus will be on the new CD.

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Date published: 5/5/2005