(Photo by Dominik Bindl/Getty Images)
The family of Tito Jackson has confirmed that he passed away on Sunday, September 15. He was 70 years old. Tito rose to superstardom in the 1970s alongside his brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael as the Jackson 5.
His cause of death remains unknown at this time. Entertainment News first reported Jackson’s passing, and his sons confirmed the death via Instagram on Sunday (Sept. 15). TJ, Taj, and Taryll, who are in a music group called 3T, shared throwback photos of their dad performing and playing with them as kids. Additionally, they opened up about their loss in the caption.
“It’s with heavy hearts that we announce that our beloved father, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson, is no longer with us. We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken. Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being,” his sons wrote.
TJ, Taj, and Taryll acknowledged that to some, their dad was Tito from the Jackson 5 and to others “Coach Tito,” or “Poppa T.” Ultimately, his sons said their father will be “missed tremendously.”
“It will forever be ‘Tito Time’ for us. Please remember to do what our father always preached: Love One Another. We love you, Pops,” the caption said.
According to the Associated Press, the Jackson 5 made their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame debut in 1997 after several hit tracks like ‘ABC’ and ‘I Want You Back.’
While the group’s members went on to have solo careers, Tito Jackson hung back for a while. He was the last of his eight siblings to launch his solo career after choosing to focus on raising his sons. His debut album, ‘Tito Time,’ finally dropped in 2016, and he followed up with ‘One Way Street’ the next year. In a 2019 interview, he promised a sophomore album, and he later delivered ‘Under Your Spell’ in 2021. In March 2023, he teamed up with Brazilian singer Natalia Damini for the track ‘Attitude.’
After the Jackson 5 went their separate ways, Michael Jackson dominated the pop scene to the point of securing the “King” title. He continued to hold the throne beyond his death on June 25, 2009, at age 50.
Just days before his death, Tito Jackson shared a Facebook post about visiting a memorial dedicated to Michael. Tito was in Munich, Germany with his brothers Marlon and Jackie for a show.
