Photo Credit: Tito Jackson by David Sedlecký / CC by 4.0
Tito Jackson, founding member, singer, and guitarist of the Jackson 5, has passed away at the age of 70.
Tito Jackson, a founding member of The Jackson 5 alongside his brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael, passed away on Sunday, September 15. The news was confirmed by a spokesperson for his youngest sister, Janet Jackson. He was 70.
A statement released on Monday said that Jackson died of a heart attack while driving to Oklahoma from New Mexico, though it did not specify where he died. Tito told The Tulsa World back in June that he had recently moved to a ranch in Claremore, OK, about 25 miles northeast of Tulsa.
One of the most popular musical acts of the 1970s, The Jackson 5 launched the solo career of Michael Jackson, who went on to become one of the most recognized and emulated musicians of all time. Michael passed away at age 50 in 2009.
Tito was best known as the group’s guitarist, a skill he picked up from his father, who passed away in 2018. Tito Jackson’s three sons, Taj, TJ, and Taryll, also confirmed their father’s passing in a joint statement on 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,” his sons’ statement begins. “We are shocked, saddened, and heartbroken. Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being.”
They continue: “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.’ Nevertheless, he will be missed tremendously. It will forever be ‘Tito Time’ for us. Please remember to do what our father always preached, and that is ‘Love One Another.’ We love you, Pops.”
The Jackson 5 enjoyed a slew of chart-topping hits, including “ABC,” “I Want You Back,” and “The Love You Save.” The group released 10 albums as The Jackson 5, and another five as The Jacksons. Tito was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alongside the other four members of The Jackson 5 in 1997. He also enjoyed a solo career, recording two albums, including Tito Time in 2016.
