Tito Jackson, an original member of the Jackson Five pop group and brother of the late Michael Jackson, has died at the age of 70.*
An official cause of death is yet to be determined.
Tito performed in the iconic ensemble with brothers Jackie, Jermaine Marlon and Micheal, who died in 2009.
He was recently in Munich ahead of a performance that the group were due to give.
“It’s with heavy hearts 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 sons TJ, Taj and Taryll said in a statement posted on Instagram late Sunday.
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 No. 1 hits in the 1970s including “ABC,” “I Want You Back” and “I’ll Be There.”
The Jackson 5 rose to fame with the help of their father, Joe Jackson, a steelworker and guitarist who supported his wife and their nine children in Gary, Indiana. As their music careers blossomed, the family moved to California.
Toriano Adaryll “Tito” Jackson, born on October 15, 1953, was the least prominent member of the group, primarily serving as a background singer and guitarist. His brothers pursued solo careers, with Michael Jackson achieving global stardom and becoming known as The King of Pop.
Michael Jackson passed away at the age of 50 on June 25, 2009.
In an interview with The Associated Press in December 2009, Tito Jackson reflected on his younger brother’s death, saying it brought the family closer together. “It definitely brought us a step closer to each other,” he shared, noting that the loss made them appreciate their love for one another even more, although he admitted he would never fully come to terms with it.
In 2014, Jackson said he and his brothers still felt Michael Jackson’s absence in their shows that continued with international tours. “I don’t think we will ever get used to performing without him. He’s dearly missed,” he said, noting that his spirit “is with us when we are performing. It gives us a lot of positive energy and puts a lot of smiles on our faces.”
Days before his death, Jackson posted a message on his Facebook page from Munich, Germany, on Sept. 11, where he visited a memorial to 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’re 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 siblings to release a solo project with his 2016 debut, “Tito Time.” He released a song in 2017, “One Way Street,” and in 2019 that he was working on a sophomore album.
Jackson said he purposely held back from pursuing a solo career, because he wanted to focus on raising his three sons: TJ, Taj and Taryll, who formed their own music group 3T. Jackson’s website offers a link to a single featuring 3T and Stevie Wonder titled, “Love One Another.”
Tito Jackson also is survived by his brothers Jermaine, Randy, Marlon and Jackie, his sisters Janet, Rebbie and La Toya and their mother, Katherine. Their father died in 2018.
