Tito Jackson, the guitarist and founding member of the Jackson 5, passed away at the age of 70. His children shared the heartbreaking news on social media, describing him as a loving father who touched the lives of many. Tito had been actively touring with his brothers, Jackie and Marlon, and had recently visited a memorial for his late brother, Michael Jackson, in Germany just days before his passing. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Tito’s contributions to the legendary Jackson 5 included iconic hits like “ABC” and “I Want You Back.” After the group disbanded, Tito continued to perform and released solo albums, the most recent being *Under Your Spell* in 2021. He is survived by his children and siblings, including Janet Jackson, and his 94-year-old mother, Katherine
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.
Tito played guitar, sang and danced in the Jackson Five and was catapulted to fame in the late Sixties and early Seventies with the band’s string of four number one hits: “I Want You Back” in 1969 and “ABC,” “The Love You Save” and “I’ll Be There” in 1970, the singer said he purposely held back from pursuing a solo career, because he wanted to focus on raising his three sons: T.J., Taj and Taryll, who formed their own music group 3T.
I’ve always been the quietest member of the group, so people make jokes about me, he said in an interview with The Jitney in 2018. One of my favorite basketball players, Charles Barkley, said, If Tito wasn’t in the Jackson 5, would we miss him?’ That hit me in the heart. It crushed me.
After Michael Jackson’s death in 2009, Tito, Jackie, Jermaine, and Marlon played a series of shows in 2012 – their first tour as a band in almost three decades. Tito was also a judge on the BBC celebrity singing competition show Just the Two of Us and exectutive produced the reality show The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty, which followed the reunion of the brothers.The singer said of touring without Michael I don’t think we will ever get used to performing without him. He’s dearly missed. He added the singer’s spirit was with us when we are performing. It gives us a lot of positive energy and puts a lot of smiles on our faces.
