LOS ANGELES — Tito Jackson, the guitarist and singer who was an original member of the iconic Jackson 5 and the elder brother of pop legends Michael and Janet Jackson, has passed away at the age of 70, his sons confirmed late Sunday.
“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 Taj, Taryll, and TJ, who make up the music group 3T, shared on Instagram, along with a photo of them with their father.
“We are shocked, saddened, and heartbroken. Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being,” they continued.
“Please remember to do what our father always preached and that is ‘Love One Another.’ We love you Pops. Your boys, Taj, Taryll, and TJ.”
Family friend Steve Manning told Entertainment Tonight that Tito died of an apparent heart attack on Sunday while driving from New Mexico to his home in Oklahoma.
Recently, Tito had been performing in Germany, England, and California with his brothers Marlon and Jackie as part of The Jacksons.
Tito was one of the original members of the family group The Jackson 5, alongside his brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael. After signing with Motown Records in 1969, they enjoyed a series of international hits in the late 1960s and early ’70s, including “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” and “I’ll Be There.”
His younger brother Michael Jackson, who later became a global solo superstar, died in 2009 at the age of 50.
Tito, along with the rest of The Jackson 5, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 by Motown legend Diana Ross.
According to his official website, Tito had been performing and touring with his blues and funk band since 2003. In 2016, he became the last of the Jackson siblings to have a solo Billboard hit with the single “Get It Baby,” followed by his debut solo album “Tito Time.”
His second album, “Under Your Spell,” released in 2021, was his first blues album and featured collaborations with artists like George Benson, Bobby Rush, and Stevie Wonder.
Tito is survived by his three sons. His former wife, Dolores, the mother of his sons, passed away in 1994.