Introduction
In the balmy summer of 1972, The Osmonds—Utah’s celebrated sibling singing group—embarked on a whirlwind tour that brought them to the heart of American youth culture: the Ohio State Fair in Columbus. On August 28 and 29, 1972, the family performed four high-energy shows over those two scorching days, each drawing crowds of around 70,000 fans per concert—a testament to their soaring popularity at the time .
Among the standout pieces from this iconic fair engagement was the “Osmond Special”, a vibrant medley of Motown classics that showcased the group’s versatility beyond their clean-cut teen-pop identity. The medley included hits like “My World Is Empty Without You” and “I Can’t Get Next to You”, stirring a powerful response from an audience that had come to see them perform Donny-specific hits, only to be pleasantly surprised by this soulful tribute .
This performance was captured on film and continues to resonate with both avid fans and historians of pop music. Footage still circulates among enthusiasts, preserving a moment when The Osmonds took center stage not just as their polished pop selves, but as passionate interpreters of rhythm-driven soul .
Listeners today are struck by how this medley represented a bold stylistic pivot—showing that The Osmonds weren’t afraid to embrace musical diversity. It’s a clip that illustrates an era when live performances served as the primary medium of discovery and cultural exchange. The energy they injected into these Motown tunes at the fair has helped cement the performance as one of their most memorable and beloved live moments.
