Tito Jackson, a member of the famous Jackson 5, passes away at 70.

Tragically, Tito Jackson, one of the founding members of the cherished pop group the Jackson 5, has passed away at the age of 70.

Tito Jackson was the third child in a family of nine, which included global music icons Michael and Janet Jackson. The Jackson family is widely known for creating music that has sold hundreds of millions of records worldwide.

“With heavy hearts, we share the news that our dear father, a Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, Tito Jackson has passed away. We are in shock and deep sorrow. Our father was a remarkable person who genuinely cared for others,” stated his sons, TJ, Taj, and Taryll Jackson, in a heartfelt message posted on Instagram this past Sunday.

The Jackson 5, one of the last major groups to be launched under Berry Gordy’s Motown label, consisted of young brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael, who was the lead singer. As Motown’s influence was waning in the late 1960s, they were signed by Gordy during a time when musical tastes were shifting from traditional pop-soul to the funkier sounds popularized by artists like Sly and the Family Stone.

The group achieved monumental success with their first hit, “I Want You Back,” which was released in 1969 and prominently featured elements from Sly’s music. This song skyrocketed to the top of the charts, followed by several other number one hits including “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I’ll Be There.” They also achieved top 5 success with songs like “Mama’s Pearl” and “Never Can Say Goodbye.” Many described their music style as “bubblegum soul.”

However, by the mid-1970s, the Jackson 5’s popularity was on the decline. Except for Jermaine, the group transitioned to Epic Records and rebranded themselves as the Jacksons. Their later successes included songs like “Enjoy Yourself,” “Lovely One,” and “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground).” During the 1980s, Michael Jackson emerged as an exceptionally successful solo artist, and collaborations with his brothers became rare following their 1984 album “Victory.”

In 1997, the Jackson 5 were honored with an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, during a ceremony introduced by their long-time friend, Diana Ross.

Following the news of Tito’s death, tributes poured in, including a message from the Broadway production “MJ,” which centered on Michael Jackson and his family. On X, the production paid tribute to Tito, calling him “an icon of the music industry who has inspired generations of singers, musicians, and performers all around the globe,” sharing a photo of Tito from a recent performance.

Διαβάστε περισσότερα'Shogun' Breaks Record with 14 Emmy Wins at Creative Arts Ceremony, While Jamie Lee Curtis Celebrates Her First Emmy

Growing up in Gary, Indiana, the Jackson 5 was initially formed under the guidance of their father, Joe Jackson, who was a steelworker and a guitar player. Michael, along with sister La Toya, later accused him of abusive behavior during their childhood. Tito, whose full name was Toriano Adaryll Jackson, was known for being the quieter member of the group, primarily serving as a background singer and guitarist.

Michael Jackson passed away at the age of 50 on June 25, 2009. In an interview with The Associated Press in December 2009, Tito reflected on how Michael’s death brought the family closer together.

“I would say it definitely made us closer,” he shared, acknowledging the deep loss they felt as a family. “We realized just how much love we have for each other, especially when one of us is missing,” he added, expressing that he would never truly come to terms with Michael’s absence.

“There are still moments when it feels unreal, and I don’t think that feeling will ever completely fade,” Tito reflected.

In 2014, he mentioned how he and his brothers continued to feel Michael’s absence during their performances, stating, “I don’t think we will ever truly get used to performing without him. We miss him dearly,” adding that they felt his spirit presence, which provided them with positive energy and joy when they performed.

Just days before his death, Tito shared a heartfelt post on his Facebook from Germany, reminiscing about a memorial honoring Michael Jackson that he had visited with his brothers Jackie and Marlon.

“Before our show in Munich, my brothers and I visited a beautifully arranged memorial for our beloved brother, Michael Jackson. We are incredibly thankful for this special place that celebrates not just his memory, but also our shared heritage. Thank you for keeping his spirit alive,” Tito wrote.

Tito had been the last of the nine siblings to release a solo project, launching his debut album “Tito Time” in 2016. He followed it with a song titled “One Way Street” in 2017, and revealed in an AP interview in 2019 that he was in the process of creating a second album.

Tito shared that he deliberately took his time in pursuing his solo career to concentrate on raising his three sons, who formed their own musical group known as 3T. Tito’s website also features a link to a single they recorded with Stevie Wonder called “Love One Another.”

Earlier this year, Tito settled in Claremore, Oklahoma, located near Tulsa. In a statement to the local newspaper, he expressed his desire to move away from the West Coast to experience life in a new community and different culture. “California is … different,” he remarked.

Tito had familial roots in the area; his uncle, Samuel Jackson, established a funeral home in Tulsa in 1917. After it tragically burned down during the Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921, he was enlisted by a white funeral service to embalm the deceased Black residents who lost their lives, later rebuilding his own business.

Tito Jackson is survived by brothers Jermaine, Randy, Marlon, and Jackie; sisters Janet, Rebbie, and La Toya; as well as their mother, Katherine. Their father passed away in 2018.

Entertainment Tonight first reported Tito’s passing.