Tito Jackson visits SiriusXM Studios on 11 September 2019 in New York City. (Dominik Bindl/Getty Images)
- US musician Tito Jackson, who founded the Jackson 5 with his brothers Michael, Jermaine, Jackie and Marlon, died on Sunday at the age of 70.
- Family friend Steve Manning confirmed Jackson’s death, but an official cause has not been determined.
- The musician, real name Toriano Adaryll Jackson, was born in Gary, Indiana, and was the third of ten children. He started his solo career in 2003 as a blues artist.
US musician Tito Jackson, who founded the Jackson 5 with his brothers Michael, Jermaine, Jackie and Marlon, died on Sunday at the age of 70.
Entertainment Tonight reported that family friend Steve Manning confirmed Jackson’s death, but an official cause has not been determined.
However, Manning told Entertainment Tonight that he believes Jackson had a heart attack while driving on a road trip.
Jackson’s sons, Taj, Taryll and TJ, also confirmed his death on social media with a statement.
“It’s with heavy hearts that we announce that our beloved father, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson, is no longer with us,” the statement said.
“We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken. Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being,” it read.
“Some of you may know him as Tito Jackson from the legendary Jackson 5, some may know him as Coach Tito or some know him as Poppa T,” it continued.
The statement said toward the end:
Nevertheless, he will be missed tremendously. It will forever be Tito Time for us. Please remember to do what our father always preached: ‘Love One Another’. We love you, Pops.
Tito Jackson had been doing shows with his brothers, including a performance in England a week ago.
The musician, real name Toriano Adaryll Jackson, was born in Gary, Indiana. The third of ten children. He started his solo career in 2003 as a blues artist and released two albums: Tito Time (2016) and Under Your Spell (2021).
He was nominated for three Grammys and inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 as a member of the Jackson 5.
The Motown group delivered hits like I Want You Back, ABC, I’ll Be There, Who’s Loving You and more. The band helped launch the solo career of Michael Jackson, who would go on to become one the most successful musicians of all time.
(L-R) Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Tito Jackson, Taryll Jackson, Jackie Jackson and Marlon Jackson of Jackson 5 and The Jacksons perform onstage during the Fool in Love Festival at Hollywood Park Grounds on 31 August 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)
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Tito Jackson was a sometimes-overlooked member of the Jackson 5, which came with occasional mockery.
“I’ve always been the quietest member of the group, so people make jokes about me,” he said in a 2018 interview with Jitney.
“One of my favourite basketball players, Charles Barkley, said, ‘If Tito wasn’t in the Jackson 5, would we miss him?’ That hit me in the heart. It crushed me,” he added.
Speaking about his brother Michael’s death and him not being with them for shows, he said in the interview:
“It’s sad to look over and see Michael’s not there. Our baby brother, the greatest thing that ever happened to music. It was all a tragedy to me how he went. He had so much more to offer. We only saw half of Michael Jackson’s career.”
