Michael Jackson’s older brother Tito dies unexpectedly at the age of 70
Tito Jackson, an original member of The Jackson 5 and brother of the late Michael Jackson, has died at the age of 70.
Jackson passed away on Sunday, 15 September, after suffering an apparent heart attack.
The musician had been actively performing with his brothers Jackie and Marlon as The Jacksons up until his death.
The group had recently completed shows in Scotland, California and England during the summer of 2024, with their most recent performance taking place on 8 September in Surrey, England.
The Jacksons had been scheduled to appear in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on October 25 and in Cincinnati, Ohio, on November 1.
Tito Jackson was a founding member of The Jackson 5, the iconic family pop group that also included Michael, Jackie, Jermaine and Marlon.
The band achieved tremendous success in the 1970s with hit songs like “I Want You Back,” “ABC” and “I’ll Be There.”
Their contributions to music were recognised with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Following his success with The Jackson 5, Tito pursued a solo career. He released two studio albums: “Tito Time” in 2016 and “Under Your Spell” in 2021.
Just days before his passing, Tito visited a memorial dedicated to his late brother Michael in Munich, Germany, expressing gratitude for the tribute to their shared legacy.
In 2003, Tito Jackson began performing and touring blues and funk music worldwide. He frequently collaborated with the BB King Blues Band, notably in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Tito’s passion for blues music was evident in his 2021 interview with Blues Blast magazine. He explained: “It was the blues that got me interested in the guitar.”
After stepping back from the spotlight following his success with The Jackson 5, Tito realised his desire to return to the stage.
He told the magazine: “I wanted to play some music, and I wanted to be on stage again. I’d been playin’ the Jackson 5 stuff for all my life practically, but the blues had been the main music in my family.”
Tito Jackson’s last single, “Love One Another,” was released in 2021. The song aimed to spread a message of unity and peace in response to the pandemic. Tito described it as “a call for people to join hands, embrace love, and exhibit kindness to one another.”
The music video featured Jackson family members and celebrities, including Kris Jenner and Kim Kardashian. Tito’s sons Taj, TJ and Taryll, who formed the band 3T, also appeared.
Tito was preceded in death by his ex-wife Dee-Dee Martes-Jackson in 1994, his father Joe Jackson in 2018, and his brother Michael in 2009.