Tito Jackson, the brother of the late king of pop Michael Jackson, has passed away at 70.
Tito, a founding member of the legendary family band the Jacksons 5 — comprised of Michael, Jemaine, Jackie, and Marlon — died on Sunday.
“It’s 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,” a statement shared by his children TJ, Taj and Taryll on Instagram reads.
According to Entertainment Tonight, Tito, who was the third of nine Jackson children, died after suffering an apparent heart attack.
But as of the time of this report, the Jackosn family has yet to announce the official cause of death.
Born Toriano Adaryll Jackson on October 15, 1953, in Gary, Indiana, Tito was a key part of the Jackson family’s musical dynasty, formed in the 1960s.
The pop group released hit songs like ‘I Want You Back,’ ‘ABC’ and ‘I’ll Be There’ in the ’70s. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 and was also honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Beyond his work with The Jackson 5, Tito pursued a solo career. He delivered his debut album ‘Tito Time’ in 2016.
He is survived by Taj, Taryll, and TJ, who formed their musical group, 3T, and by his grandchildren. His ex-wife Delores Martes died in 1994.
Michael, Tito’s brother who left an indelible mark in music history, died in 2009 from acute propofol intoxication, while their father Joe Jackson passed away in 2018 at the age of 89.
