Tito Jackson, one of the brothers who made up the beloved pop group the Jackson 5, has died at age 70.
was the third of nine Jackson children, which include global superstars Michael and sister Janet, part of a music-making family whose songs are still beloved today.
鈥淚t鈥檚 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,鈥� his sons TJ, Taj and Taryll said in a statement late Sunday.
The Jackson 5 included brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael. The family group, which was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, produced several No. 1 hits in the 1970s including 鈥淎BC,鈥� 鈥淚 Want You Back鈥� and 鈥淚鈥檒l Be There.鈥�
The Jackson 5 became one of the biggest names in music under the guidance of their father, Joe Jackson, a steelworker and guitar player who supported his wife and nine children in Gary, Indiana. As the family鈥檚 music careers took off, they relocated to California.
Born on Oct. 15, 1953, Toriano Adaryll 鈥淭ito鈥� Jackson was the least-heard member of the group as a background singer who played guitar. His brothers launched solo careers, including Michael, who became one of the world鈥檚 biggest performers known as The King of Pop.
Michael Jackson died at age 50 on June 25, 2009.
Speaking to The Associated Press in December 2009, Jackson said his younger brother鈥檚 death pulled the family closer together.
鈥淚 would say definitely it brought us a step closer to each other. To recognize that the love we have for each other when one of us is not here, what a great loss,鈥� he said, adding he would personally never 鈥渂e at peace with it.鈥�
鈥淭here鈥檚 still moments when I just can鈥檛 believe it. So I think that鈥檚 never going to go away,鈥� he said.
In 2014, Jackson said he and his brothers still felt Michael Jackson鈥檚 absence in their shows, which continued with international tours.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think we will ever get used to performing without him. He鈥檚 dearly missed,鈥� he said, noting that Michael鈥檚 spirit 鈥渋s with us when we are performing. It gives us a lot of positive energy and puts a lot of smiles on our faces.鈥�
Days before his death, Jackson posted a message on his Facebook page from Germany on Sept. 11, where he visited a memorial to Michael Jackson with his brothers.
鈥淏efore our show in Munich, my brothers Jackie, Marlon, and I, visited the beautiful memorial dedicated to our beloved brother, Michael Jackson. We鈥檙e deeply grateful for this special place that honors not only his memory but also our shared legacy. Thank you for keeping his spirit alive,鈥� he wrote.
Tito Jackson was the last of the nine Jackson siblings to release a solo project with his 2016 debut, 鈥淭ito Time.鈥� He released a song in 2017, 鈥淥ne Way Street,鈥� and in 2019 that he was working on a sophomore album.
Jackson said he purposely held back from pursuing a solo career because he wanted to focus on raising his three sons, TJ, Taj and Taryll, who formed their own music group, 3T. Jackson鈥檚 website offers a link to a single featuring 3T and Stevie Wonder titled, 鈥淟ove One Another.鈥�
Tito Jackson also is survived by his brothers Jermaine, Randy, Marlon and Jackie, his sisters Janet, Rebbie and La Toya and their mother, Katherine. Their father .
Jackson鈥檚 death was first reported by Entertainment Tonight.
