Tito Jackson, one of the brothers who formed the beloved pop group Jackson 5, has died at the age of 70.
Tito was the third of nine Jackson children, including global superstars Michael and his sister Janet, part of a family of music makers whose songs are still loved today.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce that our beloved father, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson, is no longer with us. We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken. Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being,” his children TJ, Taj and Taryll said in a statement posted to Instagram Sunday night.
The Jackson 5 included brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael. The family group, which was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, produced several number-one hits in the 1970s, including alphabet, I want you back and I’ll be there.
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The Jackson 5 became one of the biggest names in music under the direction of their father, Joe Jackson, a steelworker and guitarist who supported his wife and nine children in Gary, Indiana. When the family’s music career took off, they moved to California.
Born on October 15, 1953, Toriano Adaryll “Tito” Jackson was the least heard member of the group as a backing vocalist who played guitar. His brothers went on to pursue solo careers, including Michael, who became one of the world’s biggest entertainers known as The King of Pop.
Michael Jackson died at the age of 50 on June 25, 2009.
FILE – The Jackson 5, Michael Jackson, front right; Marlon Jackson, front left; Tito Jackson, back left; Jackie Jackson, back center; and Jermaine Jackson, back right, pose together for this undated file photo in Los Angeles.
AP Photo, Archive
Speaking to The Associated Press in December 2009, Jackson said his younger brother’s death brought the family closer together.
“I would say it definitely brought us one step closer. To acknowledge the love we have for each other when one of us is not here is a huge loss,” she said, adding that she personally would never “be at peace with that.”
“There are still times when I can’t believe it, so I think that will never go away,” he said.
In 2014, Jackson said that he and his brothers still felt Michael Jackson’s absence at their shows, which continued with international tours.
“I don’t think we’ll ever get used to performing without him. We miss him so much,” she said, noting that Michael’s spirit “is with us when we perform. He gives us so much positive energy and brings so many smiles to our faces.”
Days before his death, Jackson posted a message on his Facebook page from Germany on September 11, where he visited a memorial for Michael Jackson with his brothers.
“Before our show in Munich, my brothers Jackie, Marlon and I visited the beautiful memorial dedicated to our beloved brother Michael Jackson. We are deeply grateful for this special place that honors not only his memory but also our shared legacy. Thank you for keeping his spirit alive,” he wrote.
Tito Jackson was the last of the nine Jackson brothers to release a solo project with his 2016 debut, Tito’s timeHe released a song in 2017, One way streetand told AP in 2019 that he was working on a second album.
Jackson said he deliberately held off on pursuing a solo career because he wanted to focus on raising his three sons, TJ, Taj and Taryll, who formed their own musical group, 3T. Jackson’s website provides a link to a single featuring 3T and Stevie Wonder titled Love one another.
Tito Jackson is also survived by his brothers Jermaine, Randy, Marlon and Jackie, his sisters Janet, Rebbie and La Toya and his mother, Katherine. His father died in 2018.
Jackson’s death was first reported by Entertainment Tonight.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
