Tito Jackson, a member of the legendary family band The Jackson 5 and brother to Michael and Janet Jackson, has passed away at the age of 70, as confirmed by his nephew Siggy Jackson to PEOPLE. The musician reportedly died on Sunday, Sept. 15, following an apparent heart attack, according to Entertainment Tonight, which first broke the news.
In the months leading up to his death, Tito had been actively performing with his brothers Jackie and Marlon as The Jacksons. The group toured in Scotland, California, and England during the summer of 2024, and their most recent performance was on Sept. 8 in Surrey, England. They had upcoming appearances scheduled for Oct. 25 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Nov. 1 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Earlier this week, while in Munich, Germany, Tito and his brothers visited a memorial dedicated to Michael Jackson. Tito shared his gratitude on Facebook, writing, "We're deeply grateful for this special place that honors not only his memory but also our shared legacy. Thank you for keeping his spirit alive."
Tito was an original member of The Jackson 5, the groundbreaking family group that included his brothers Michael, Jackie, Jermaine, and Marlon (later joined by Randy Jackson). The Jackson 5 dominated the charts in the '70s with hits like "I Want You Back," "ABC," and "I'll Be There." In 1997, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In addition to his work with The Jackson 5, Tito pursued a solo career, releasing two albums: Tito Time in 2016 and Under Your Spell in 2021. His love for blues music, which he credited for sparking his interest in the guitar, led him to tour globally with blues and funk music starting in 2003. He even performed with the BB King Blues Band from 2017 to 2019.
In a 2021 interview with Blues Blast magazine, Tito discussed his passion for the blues, explaining how it influenced his musical journey. He noted that after years of performing Jackson 5 hits, he longed to return to the blues, the genre that played a central role in his family's musical foundation.
Tito’s final single, "Love One Another," was released in 2021. The song, created in the aftermath of the pandemic, carried a message of love, unity, and peace. Tito described it as a call for kindness and togetherness, drawing inspiration from the enduring legacy of the Jackson family. The music video featured appearances from members of the Jackson family, along with celebrities like Kris Jenner and Kim Kardashian.
Despite his advancing age, Tito showed no signs of slowing down. In an interview with Fox 5 San Diego in August 2024, he expressed his continued enthusiasm for touring, saying, "We love it, I still love the traveling, this type of thing, it's great."
Tito is survived by his three sons—Taj, TJ, and Taryll—whom he managed in the band 3T, and by his siblings. He was preceded in death by his ex-wife, Dee-Dee Martes-Jackson, in 1994; his father, Joe Jackson, in 2018; and his brother, Michael Jackson, in 2009.
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