Link: www.osmond.com
Feb. 16, 2001--
Donny Osmond is back on the music beat. After two years as co-host of his own television show with his sister, Marie, Donny is recording again.
And he's in town promoting his new solo album. Arts Specialist Carole Mikita talked with him this morning.
He's been making the rounds on some of the national shows, like "The Today Show", "Regis", "Rosie O'Donnell." Donny says it's been more than ten years since he's worked in a studio and it was like coming home.
Donny Osmond as performer. It is what he loves,what he has missed.
This time the songs belong to the world of Broadway.
Donny chose all of the songs but one. Legendary producer Phil Ramone sold him on an older tune, "Luck Be A Lady" from "Guys and Dolls."
Donny Osmond, "This is the Moment": "HE PLAYED ME FRANK SINATRA'S VERSION, AND THEN HE PLAYED ME BARBRA STREISAND'S VERSION, AND THEN HE PLAYED ME MARLON BRANDO'S VERSION. AND I LOOK AT HIM. 'WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO TO IT?!' AND HE SAID 'WE'RE GONNA GO VERY STEELEY DAN WITH IT... WHOLE DIFFERENT DIRECTION.' THAT'S REMINISCENT OF WHAT THE WHOLE ALBUM'S ALL ABOUT. IT'S NOT DONE IN A VERY BROADWAY KIND OF WAY. IT'S VERY POP, VERY R&B KIND OF DIRECTION."
This album was not something he was thinking about, but when approached, he says it felt like a fit. Afterall, he spent years in a successful run in musical theater with "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
Donny Osmond: "EVERYBODY SAYS 'ARE YOU GONNA DO JOSEPH AGAIN?' NO, NOT GONNA DO JOSEPH... HAD ENOUGH OF THE LOIN CLOTH (HE LAUGHS). BUT I DO WANT TO DO SOME MUSICAL THEATER. THERE'RE A COUPLE OFFERS RIGHT NOW THAT I'M LOOKING AT. THIS WHOLE YEAR I'VE DEDICATED AND EARMARKED FOR THE TOURING OF 'THIS IS THE MOMENT.'"
He will do an international concert tour and, yes, that will include Salt Lake City, either this spring or next fall.
Donny Osmond: "I WANT TO REVISIT THE PAST. I WANNA GO BACK. I WANT A SECTION IN THE SHOW WHERE I SING 'PUPPY LOVE' AND 'GO AWAY LITTLE GIRL' AND 'BAD APPLE' AND ALL THOSE RECORDS AND, YOU KNOW, DO 'EM RIGHT."
Donny says that's kind of a motto-- doing things right, which is how he feels about his and his sister, Marie's television talk show, which FOX cancelled after two seasons. He's proud of their effort and is now receiving offers to do more TV, but this time to host a game show-- Dick Clark's $100- Thousand Dollar Pyramid.
Donny Osmond: "I'M THINKING HERE, 'WAIT A MINUTE, LOOK AT WHAT REGIS HAS DONE WITH MILLIONAIRE, LOOK AT WHAT WHOOPI HAS DONE WITH HOLLYWOOD SQUARES.' THE WHOLE GENRE OF GAME SHOWS HAS CHANGED. AND I DID THE PILOT AND THEY SPENT THE MONEY."
Donny says he'd like to do it. There are two versions, the 100- Thousand Dollar daytime show and then the million dollar prime time show. Producers are talking with stations around the country, he says, now it's wait and see.
If you'd like to keep up with what Donny's doing and when, check www.osmond.com.
