Tito Jackson, who, together with siblings Michael, Jermaine, Jackie, and Marlon, founded the legendary family group the Jackson 5, died on Sunday at the age of 70.
Read Also: How did Tito Jackson’s death impact the Jackson family's public appearances?
His sons Taj, Taryll, and TJ mourned him on Instagram, saying, "It's with heavy hearts that we announce that our beloved father, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson, is no longer with us." We are astonished, upset, and grieved. Our father was an excellent guy who was concerned about everyone's well-being. Some of you may recognize him as Tito Jackson from the famed Jackson 5, others as 'Coach Tito' or 'Poppa T.' Nevertheless, he will be much missed. It'll always be 'Tito Time' for us. Please remember what our father always preached: 'Love One Another.' "We love you, Pops."
He passed away from a heart attack while traveling from New Mexico to Oklahoma, according to a spokeswoman for his sister Janet Jackson.
He had just performed alongside brothers Marlon and Jackie under the Jacksons' new banner, including a show in England only a week ago. On August 31, an audience in Los Angeles saw the Jacksons perform at the Fool in Love Festival at Hollywood Park. Tito has also recorded and performed extensively as a blues guitarist during the previous two decades, either under his own name or with the B.B. King Blues Band.
Tito Jackson played guitar, sang, and, of course, danced his way into homes all over the world as the Jackson 5 became an international sensation in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with a string of smash hits that included four consecutive No. 1 hits: "I Want You Back" in 1969, "ABC," "The Love You Save," and "I'll Be There" in 1970. "Dancing Machine," published in 1974, was almost as successful, reaching at No. 2. During this early period of glory, young Michael was the center of attention, but the chemistry and choreography of the less famous brothers were critical to their success as a top act on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and other TV variety shows.
Following a label change from Motown to Epic, a name change from the Jackson 5 to the Jacksons, and the addition of Randy, the group reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 with "Enjoy Yourself" in 1976, "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" in 1979, and finally, in 1984, "State of Shock," a collaboration with Mick Jagger that was more of a Michael solo project than a true group effort. The group's Victory Tour hit stadiums in 1984, giving the brothers one more chance to be a big act on their own after the success of "Thriller" made it obvious Michael's full-time career was as a solo act. Michael departed the Jacksons at the conclusion of that tour, taking the most of the attention with him, although other incarnations of the family group continued to perform and record at regular intervals afterward.
Tito and the other members of the Jackson 5 were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. Michael, who died in 2009, is the only one of Tito's original five siblings who died before him.
Tito was aware that as one of the family's less renowned members, his name was sometimes used as a joke. "I've always been the quietest member of the group, so people make jokes about me," he said in a 2018 interview with the Jitney. "One of my favorite basketball players, Charles Barkley, asked, 'If Tito wasn't in the Jackson 5, would we miss him?'" That struck me in the heart. "It crushed me."
Tito's guitar playing was first restricted to the Jackson 5's live performances, since Motown would not allow the brothers to compose or play instruments on their first run of hits. However, Tito started to contribute guitar parts to their records when the brothers left Motown and joined with Epic in the mid-1970s.
Tito was the last brother from the original lineup to make a solo album, which did not happen until 2016, when he finally released his debut album, "Tito Time." It indicated his interest in the blues, which Tito returned to and reinforced throughout the latter portion of his life.
"I married at the age of eighteen. I wanted to be near my three boys, therefore I didn't pursue a solo career," Tito told the Jitney, justifying his absence of a record. "But this record" ('Tito Time'), the first single I made with Big Daddy Kane ("Get It Baby"), performed quite well. The Alabama band performs it at halftime during football games. It was fun to see the band and cheerleaders dance to it."
Tito released another blues-oriented album, "Under Your Spell," in 2021, and went on tour to promote it. Guests on the session were Stevie Wonder, George Benson, Joe Bonamassa, and his brother Marlon.
FAQs
What caused Tito Jackson to die?
He was seventy. A representative for his younger sister, singer Janet Jackson, said in a statement on Monday that Mr. Jackson died of a heart attack while traveling from New Mexico to Oklahoma.
What did Tito die of?
While an official cause of death has yet to be confirmed, Manning thinks Tito had a heart attack while traveling from New Mexico to Oklahoma." The Jackson brothers were Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael.
Thomas Hardy
Tito Jackson, who, together with siblings Michael, Jermaine, Jackie, and Marlon, founded the legendary family group the Jackson 5, died on Sunday at the age of 70.
Read Also: How did Tito Jackson’s death impact the Jackson family's public appearances?
His sons Taj, Taryll, and TJ mourned him on Instagram, saying, "It's with heavy hearts that we announce that our beloved father, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson, is no longer with us." We are astonished, upset, and grieved. Our father was an excellent guy who was concerned about everyone's well-being. Some of you may recognize him as Tito Jackson from the famed Jackson 5, others as 'Coach Tito' or 'Poppa T.' Nevertheless, he will be much missed. It'll always be 'Tito Time' for us. Please remember what our father always preached: 'Love One Another.' "We love you, Pops."
He passed away from a heart attack while traveling from New Mexico to Oklahoma, according to a spokeswoman for his sister Janet Jackson.
He had just performed alongside brothers Marlon and Jackie under the Jacksons' new banner, including a show in England only a week ago. On August 31, an audience in Los Angeles saw the Jacksons perform at the Fool in Love Festival at Hollywood Park. Tito has also recorded and performed extensively as a blues guitarist during the previous two decades, either under his own name or with the B.B. King Blues Band.
Tito Jackson played guitar, sang, and, of course, danced his way into homes all over the world as the Jackson 5 became an international sensation in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with a string of smash hits that included four consecutive No. 1 hits: "I Want You Back" in 1969, "ABC," "The Love You Save," and "I'll Be There" in 1970. "Dancing Machine," published in 1974, was almost as successful, reaching at No. 2. During this early period of glory, young Michael was the center of attention, but the chemistry and choreography of the less famous brothers were critical to their success as a top act on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and other TV variety shows.
Following a label change from Motown to Epic, a name change from the Jackson 5 to the Jacksons, and the addition of Randy, the group reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 with "Enjoy Yourself" in 1976, "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" in 1979, and finally, in 1984, "State of Shock," a collaboration with Mick Jagger that was more of a Michael solo project than a true group effort. The group's Victory Tour hit stadiums in 1984, giving the brothers one more chance to be a big act on their own after the success of "Thriller" made it obvious Michael's full-time career was as a solo act. Michael departed the Jacksons at the conclusion of that tour, taking the most of the attention with him, although other incarnations of the family group continued to perform and record at regular intervals afterward.
Tito and the other members of the Jackson 5 were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. Michael, who died in 2009, is the only one of Tito's original five siblings who died before him.
Tito was aware that as one of the family's less renowned members, his name was sometimes used as a joke. "I've always been the quietest member of the group, so people make jokes about me," he said in a 2018 interview with the Jitney. "One of my favorite basketball players, Charles Barkley, asked, 'If Tito wasn't in the Jackson 5, would we miss him?'" That struck me in the heart. "It crushed me."
Tito's guitar playing was first restricted to the Jackson 5's live performances, since Motown would not allow the brothers to compose or play instruments on their first run of hits. However, Tito started to contribute guitar parts to their records when the brothers left Motown and joined with Epic in the mid-1970s.
Tito was the last brother from the original lineup to make a solo album, which did not happen until 2016, when he finally released his debut album, "Tito Time." It indicated his interest in the blues, which Tito returned to and reinforced throughout the latter portion of his life.
"I married at the age of eighteen. I wanted to be near my three boys, therefore I didn't pursue a solo career," Tito told the Jitney, justifying his absence of a record. "But this record" ('Tito Time'), the first single I made with Big Daddy Kane ("Get It Baby"), performed quite well. The Alabama band performs it at halftime during football games. It was fun to see the band and cheerleaders dance to it."
Tito released another blues-oriented album, "Under Your Spell," in 2021, and went on tour to promote it. Guests on the session were Stevie Wonder, George Benson, Joe Bonamassa, and his brother Marlon.
FAQs
What caused Tito Jackson to die?
He was seventy. A representative for his younger sister, singer Janet Jackson, said in a statement on Monday that Mr. Jackson died of a heart attack while traveling from New Mexico to Oklahoma.
What did Tito die of?
While an official cause of death has yet to be confirmed, Manning thinks Tito had a heart attack while traveling from New Mexico to Oklahoma." The Jackson brothers were Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael.