Tito Jackson, a founding member of the iconic Jackson 5, has passed away at the age of 70.

Tito, the third of nine children in the Jacksons, was a popular member of the pop group along with brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, the Jackson 5 had many hits in the 1970s including “ABC”, “I Want You Back”, “I'll Be There”. . . . .

In a statement on Instagram, Tito’s sons TJ, Taj and Taryl expressed their deep sorrow: “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our beloved father, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson. We are shocked and heartbroken. Our dad was an incredible man who cared so much about everyone.”


Born on October 15, 1953, Tito was known for his guitar playing and backing vocals. Although his brother Michael gained worldwide fame as the King of Pop, Tito’s contribution to the family’s musical legacy is significant. Michael Jackson died in 2009.



In an interview after Michael's death, Tito spoke about the impact of the loss on the family, saying it brought them closer to the pain he and his siblings continued to feel with Michael's presence during performances, and noted that “He's dearly missed”.



Tito’s last solo project was 2016’s “Tito Time,” and in 2017 he released “One Way Street”. He was working on another album before he died. Tito focused on training his three sons, TJ, Taz and Taryl, who formed 3T.



While Tito leaves behind brothers Jermaine, Randy, Marlon and Jackie, and sisters Janet, Rebbie and Latoya, his mother Catherine also mourns. His father, Joe Jackson, died in 2018.



News of Tito Jackson's death was originally reported by Entertainment Tonight.