Tito Jackson, an original member of the hit-making pop group the Jackson 5, has died, his family confirmed Monday. He was 70.
NBC Los Angeles spoke to a family member who confirmed the death. His sons also posted the news to Instagram. “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,” his sons TJ, Taj and Taryll said in the post. They added that “he will be missed tremendously. It will forever be ‘Tito Time’ for us.”
Jackson was a founding member of the group of five brothers, along with Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael, who shot to fame in the late 1960s and ’70s with a string of hits.
The Jackson 5, with Tito at bottom left photo: Wikimedia
Tito Jackson, who was prevented from playing guitar on Jackson 5 records in favor of session musicians, later launched his own career as a solo blues musician in 2003.
According to Entertainment Tonight, who was first to report the news, Jackson died on Sunday, Sept. 15 after suffering an apparent heart attack. Leading up to his death, he had been performing with brothers Jackie Jackson and Marlon Jackson as The Jacksons and had shows in Scotland, California and England over summer 2024. They performed as recently as Sept. 8 in Surrey, England, and had appearances set for Oct. 25 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Nov. 1 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
According to People, Tito was in Munich, Germany, earlier last week, with The Jacksons. The brothers “visited the beautiful memorial dedicated to our beloved brother, Michael Jackson,” Tito wrote on Facebook, adding, “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.”
Tito was an original member of The Jackson 5. The family pop group had hit songs with “I Want You Back,” “ABC” and “I’ll Be There,” throughout the ’70s. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 and was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Jackson went on to have a solo career, releasing two studio albums: “Tito Time” in 2016 and “Under Your Spell” in 2021. In 2003, he began performing and touring blues and funk music across the world, according to his website, and toured with the B.B. King Blues Band at times, notably in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Jackson was preceded in death by his ex-wife Dee-Dee Martes-Jackson (Taj, TJ and Taryll’s mother) in 1994; his father Joe Jackson in 2018; and brother Michael in 2009.
