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\n\tDonny Osmond<\/a> paid tribute<\/a> to his older brother Alan<\/a>, who died Monday, crediting the eldest member of their famed family band for his \u201ctireless work [that] helped build everything we became.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tSurrounded by his wife and his children, Alan died at age 76 in Salt Lake City. The singer\u2019s cause of death was not immediately disclosed, but Alan was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1987.<\/p>\n \n\tOn Tuesday, Donny took to Instagram to share some thoughts about growing up and performing alongside Alan in the Sixties and Seventies. Sharing a black-and-white photo of Alan clutching onto him as a baby, Donny wrote, \u201cEven back then, you can see that he had his arm around me, watching over me. That\u2019s who he was. My protector. My guide. The one who quietly carried so much responsibility so the rest of us could shine.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tHe continued, \u201cI will always be grateful for the sacrifices he made and the love he showed \u2014\u00a0not just to me, but to every member of our family. I owe him more than I can ever fully express. I love you, Alan. Thank you for always being there for me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tTheir brother Merrill also paid tribute to Alan, writing that the last time the two spoke, they had a \u201cheart to heart.\u201d Although \u201che was struggling,\u201d Merrill added, \u201cwhen I shared a joke or two, he found the strength to chuckle \u2026 and then he smiled.\u201d<\/p>\n