Tito Jackson, one of the founding members of the iconic Jackson 5, who rose to fame alongside his brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael in the 1970s with hits like “ABC” and “I’ll Be There,” passed away on Sunday at the age of 70.
On Monday, a representative for his youngest sister, singer Janet Jackson, confirmed in a statement that Tito died of a heart attack while traveling from New Mexico to Oklahoma. However, the exact location of his death was not disclosed. In a June interview with The Tulsa World, Tito mentioned his recent move to a ranch in Claremore, Oklahoma, located about 25 miles northeast of Tulsa.
The Jackson 5 were one of the most successful music groups of their time, and they were instrumental in launching Michael Jackson’s solo career. Michael would go on to be recognized as the “King of Pop,” one of the most influential and imitated musicians in history, until his death in 2009 at the age of 50.
The rise of the Jackson 5, from their beginnings in Gary, Indiana, to worldwide fame, has been chronicled in numerous stories and documentaries. Their journey was also featured in a 1992 ABC mini-series, “The Jacksons: An American Dream.”
Tito, born Toriano Adaryll Jackson on October 15, 1953, in Gary, Indiana, was the third of ten children born to Joe and Katherine Jackson. He is best known for playing guitar in the Jackson 5, a skill he picked up from his father. Joe Jackson, who managed the Jackson 5, passed away in 2018.
In a 2019 interview, Tito recalled how, as a child, he would secretly play his father’s guitar. “One day, I broke a string and didn’t know how to fix it,” he said. “When my dad came home, he was really upset.” After punishing Tito, Joe asked him to show what he had learned, leading to him being given the guitar and instructed to learn every song he heard on the radio.
The Jackson brothers began performing as the Jackson Brothers, with Michael, the youngest, joining the group after wowing the family at a talent show with his rendition of “Climb Every Mountain.” The group eventually became known as the Jackson 5 after someone suggested the name at a wedding where they were performing.
Tito, the second oldest of the brothers after Jackie, was followed by Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael in age.
After signing with Motown Records, the Jackson 5 became a sensation in the 1970s, regularly appearing on television alongside stars like Cher and Diana Ross. Their extensive discography, with more than a dozen albums, provided the soundtrack for a generation, and their level of popularity could be compared to modern-day stars like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé.
“I remember our first trip to the U.K. where around 10,000 fans greeted us at the airport,” Tito said in a 2019 interview on the TV show “Sister Circle.” “I got lost in the crowd, with fans chasing me everywhere—it was wild.”
In 1975, another brother, Randy, joined the group, replacing Jermaine, who had launched a solo career. The group, after leaving Motown in 1976, continued as the Jacksons and signed with Epic Records, as Motown retained the rights to the name Jackson 5.
Three of the Jackson 5’s most popular hits — “ABC,” “I Want You Back,” and “I’ll Be There” — were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and in 1997, the group was honored with induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, alongside other music legends like the Bee Gees, Joni Mitchell, and Crosby, Stills & Nash.
Tito remained active in the music industry throughout his life. He released a solo album, Tito Time, in 2016 and continued to perform with his brothers. The Jacksons (Tito, Jackie, Marlon, and Tito’s son Taryll) were scheduled to perform in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in October and in Cincinnati in November.
Tito is survived by his brothers and sisters, including Janet, La Toya, and Rebbie; his mother Katherine; three sons, Taj, Taryll, and TJ; nine grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren.
Reflecting on his career, Tito once said, “It’s the fans that make the artist. We make music and do all these things, but it’s really the fans who love and support it.”
