Bobby Van Osborne Sr., age 91, of Portland, Tennessee, passed away on Tuesday, June 27, 2023.
He was born on December 7, 1931, to his parents Robert and Daisy Osborne, in Hyden, Kentucky.
Mr. Osborne was a musician from the time he was 14 years old, til his death. In the midst of his music career, he had four children and was married to Karen Harr Osborne, on January 15, 1985.
He got his first professional music gig in 1949, playing with the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers, in Bluefield, West Virginia. He was also a member of the Stanley Brothers Band, before he was drafted into the military. Mr. Osborne served as a Marine for two years during the Korean War, and received a Purple Heart. After returning from the military, he and his brother, Sonny Osborne, became to be known as the Osborne Brothers, in November of 1953; they played in a band with Enos Johnson, in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Osborne Brothers played together until 2004; a little over 50 years, during which their musical careers flourished. The Osborne Brothers played with Jimmy Martin, in 1954; Red Allen, in 1963; became members of the Grand Ol Opry, in 1964; was the first bluegrass music group to play at the White House, during the Richard Nixon presidency, in 1973; was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, in 1994; as well as Kentucky’s Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame; and most recently the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame, this year of 2023. However after Sonny Osborne, passed away Mr. Bobby, continued his own band called the Rocky Top Express, and recorded with Compass Records; his album “Original” was nominated for a Grammy. Some of his best known work was the song “Rocky Top,” which was recorded on Christmas Day, in 1967. Not only is “Rocky Top” the University of Tennessee fight song, it was declared a State Song in 1982. He also recorded the State of Kentucky’s State Song, “Kentucky.”
Mr. Bobby Van Osborne Sr., is survived by his wife of 38 years, Karen (Harr) Osborne; children, Robby Osborne (Shirley), Wynn Osborne (Becky), Tina Osborne, and Bobby Osborne Jr.; grandchildren, Gaylen Osborne, Garon Osborne, Darren Osborne, Christina Osborne, and Marcus Brown; 6 great grandchildren; and his sister, Louise Williams (Maurice Conrad).
He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Osborne; mother, Daisy (Dixon) Osborne; and brother, Sonny Osborne.
All funeral services will be conducted at Crestview Funeral Home, Memory Gardens, and Cremation.
Visitation will take place on Wednesday, July 5, from 12:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M., and again on Thursday, July 6, 2023, from 9:00 A.M. until 10:00 A.M.. The funeral service of Mr. Bobby Van Osborne Sr., will be at 10:00 A.M., on Thursday, July 6, 2023. Burial will follow in Crestview Memory Gardens.
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