Original Jackson 5 Member Tito Jackson Dies At 70

Tito Jackson died on September 15 at the age of 70.
Jackson reportedly suffered a heart attack before his passing.
He was a Grammy-nominated original member of the Jackson 5 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

On Sunday, September 15, Tito Jackson died. He was 70 years old when he passed away following an apparent heart attack, as first reported by Entertainment Tonight. His nephew Siggy confirmed news of Tito’s passing to People.

Tito Jackson was an original member of the Jackson 5, later known as the Jacksons, and was brother to Janet and Michael Jackson. In 2003, Tito embarked on a solo career. He has been nominated for three Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Jackson 5.

Announcing the death of Tito Jackson

We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken. Our father Tito Jackson @titojackson5 was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being. Please remember to do what our father always preached, “Love One Another.” We love you Pops and will forever miss you. pic.twitter.com/QF2ZEydYT5

— 3T (@3TWorld) September 16, 2024

On Monday, brothers Taj Jackson, Taryll Jackson and TJ Jackson took to social media to announce Tito’s passing. “We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken,” their post begins. “Our father Tito Jackson @titojackson5 was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being.”

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They conclude, “Please remember to do what our father always preached, Love One Another.’ We love you Pops and will forever miss you.”

Just earlier this week, the Jackson brothers had visited a memorial in Munich, Germany, dedicated to Michael. On Facebook, they expressed their gratitude “for this special place that honors not only his memory but also our shared legacy. Thank you for keeping his spirit alive.”

A legacy that shaped the landscape of music

Toriano Adaryll “Tito” Jackson was born on October 15, 1953, the son of Joseph “Joe” and Katherine. Partnered with the Motown label, he and his siblings rose to prominence as the Jackson 5 throughout the 1960s and ’70s. Tito was integral to the band’s start. He was just 10 years old when he was found playing his father’s guitar and broke a string.

Joe fixed the string, then demanded that Tito play more for him. What Tito showed him that day impressed Joe so much, who had a background performing in an R&B group, that he bought Tito his own guitar, and brought Jackie, and Jermaine into the mix to start the band. Soon, the band became a family affair.

Following the 2009 death of Tito’s brother, Michael, dubbed the King of Pop, Tito said that the crushing loss had brought the family closer in their time of grief. “I would say definitely it brought us a step closer to each other. To recognize that the love we have for each other when one of us is not here, what a great loss,” he shared, adding, “There’s still moments when I just can’t believe it. So I think that’s never going to go away.”

The 2016 launch of Tito’s debut Tito Time made him the last of the nine Jackson siblings to release a solo project, something he held off on to better focus on raising his three sons, who he shared with Delores “Dee Dee” Martes. Taj, Taryll, and TJ went on to form an R&B pop group of their own called 3T. Tito had nine grandchildren.

Rest in peace, Tito Jackson.