Tito Jackson, one of the brothers in the beloved pop group The Jackson 5, has died at the age of 70, his sons said.
Tito is the third of nine Jackson children, including global superstars Michael and his sister Janet, and is part of a musical dynasty whose songs are beloved to this day.
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved father, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson. We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken. Our father was an incredible man who cared about and wanted the best for all,” his sons TJ, Taj and Taryll said in a statement posted to Instagram and Facebook late Sunday.
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Jackson’s death was first reported by Entertainment Tonight, which said in a social media post, “Steve Manning, a longtime friend of the Jackson family and former manager, told ET that Tito passed away today. An official cause of death has not yet been determined, but Manning believes Tito suffered a heart attack while driving from New Mexico to Oklahoma.”
The Jackson 5 were made up of brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael. The family group, which was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, had numerous number one hits in the 1970s, including “ABC,” “I Want You Back” and “I’ll Be There.”
The Jackson 5 rose to music fame under the tutelage of their father, Joe Jackson, a steelworker and guitarist who was raising a wife and nine children in Gary, Ind. Once the family’s music career took off, they moved to California.
Born October 15, 1953, Triano Adalil “Tito” Jackson was the least heard member of the group, a guitar-playing backing singer. His brothers launched solo careers, and Michael became one of the world’s biggest performers and was known as the King of Pop.
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Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009, at the age of 50.
Tito Jackson told The Associated Press in December 2009 that his brother’s death had brought the family closer together.
“I can definitely say this has brought us one step closer to each other. What a loss it is to realize the love we have for each other when one of us is no longer with us,” he said, adding that he personally will never “come to terms with what happened.”
“There are still incredible moments, so I don’t think it ever goes away,” he said.
In 2014, Tito Jackson said that he and his brothers still felt the absence of Michael Jackson at their shows as their international tour continued.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to performing without him. I miss him so much,” he said, noting that his spirit is “with us when we perform. It gives us a lot of positive energy and brings a lot of smiles.”
Tito Jackson posted a message on his Facebook page from Munich, Germany, on September 11, just days before his death, where he had visited Michael Jackson’s memorial with his brothers.
“Prior to my show in Munich, my siblings Jackie, Marlon and I visited the beautiful memorial dedicated to my beloved brother Michael Jackson. We are deeply grateful for this special place that not only honors his memory but our shared legacy. Thank you for keeping his spirit alive,” he wrote.
Tito Jackson was the last of the nine Jackson siblings to release a solo project, releasing his debut single “Tito Time” in 2016. He released “One Way Street” in 2017 and told The Associated Press in 2019 that he was working on his second album.
Jackson said he purposely refrained from a solo career because he wanted to focus on raising his three sons, who formed their own musical group, 3T. Tito Jackson’s website includes a link to the single “Love One Another,” which features 3T and Stevie Wonder.
Tito Jackson is survived by his brothers Jermaine, Randy, Marlon and Jackie, sisters Janet, Libby and LaToya, and his mother Katherine. His father passed away in 2018.
