Tito Jackson, a pivotal member of the legendary Jackson 5 and The Jacksons, has passed away at the age of 70. Jackson died on Sunday while traveling from New Mexico to Oklahoma, according to Steve Manning, a long-time friend and family manager. Although Manning suspects a heart attack as the cause, an official confirmation has yet to be released.
Tito, born Toriano Adaryll Jackson in Gary, Indiana, was the third of 10 children in the famous Jackson family. He rose to fame alongside his brothers in the late ’60s and ’70s when they signed with Motown Records. The Jackson 5 became household names with timeless hits such as “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” and “I’ll Be There.”
While his younger brother Michael achieved global fame as the “King of Pop,” Tito launched his solo career in 2003, performing as a blues musician. In 2016, he released his first commercially successful single, “Get It Baby,” featuring Big Daddy Kane, from his album Tito Time.
Tito is survived by his three sons—Taj, Taryll, and TJ—who formed the R&B/pop group 3T, and his nine grandchildren.
