Tito Jackson, Original Jackson 5 Member and Michael's Brother ...

A cause of death has yet to be officially determined

Tito Jackson, who sang and danced with brothers Michael, Jermaine, Jackie, and Marlon as a founding member of the family group Jackson 5, died Sunday. He was 70.

Steve Manning, a longtime friend of the family, told Entertainment Tonight that Jackson died while traveling on a road trip, but a cause of death has yet to be determined. Tito’s nephew, Siggy Jackson, also confirmed the news to People.

Tito’s three sons, Taj, Taryll, and T.J., released a statement on social media, calling their father “an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being.” They continued: “Some of you may know him as Tito Jackson from the legendary Jackson 5, some may know him as ‘Coach Tito’ or some know him as ‘Poppa T.’ Nevertheless, he will be missed tremendously. It will forever be ‘Tito Time’ for us. Please remember to do what our father always preached and that is ‘Love One Another.’ We love you Pops.”

Tito had been performing with brothers Jackie Jackson and Marlon as the renewed The Jacksons this summer and had performed as recently as Sept. 8 in Surrey, England. Over the past two decades, he also recorded as a blues guitarist under his own name or with the B.B. King Blues Band.

As an original founding member of the iconic Jackson 5, the revered family pop group had hit songs such as “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” and “I’ll Be There” throughout the late Sixties and early Seventies. The band, which later included Randy Jackson, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 and honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Michael, who died in 2009, is the only member from the original lineup of five brothers to have preceded Tito in death.

Earlier this week, while Tito was in Munich, Germany with the Jacksons, the group visited the “beautiful” memorial dedicated to “our beloved brother” Michael, Tito wrote in a Facebook post. “We’re deeply grateful for this special place that honors not only his memory but also our shared legacy. Thank you for keeping his spirit alive.”

Tito was born Toriano Adaryll Jackson on Oct. 15, 1953 in Gary, Indiana, the third of Joe and Katherine Jackson’s 10 children. His music career began a surreptitious note as he played Joe’s guitar behind his father’s back. He was finally caught after breaking a string and earning his father’s infamous ire.

“He took care of my ass and then he set me down and put the guitar in my lap and said, ‘Show me what you know,’” Tito recalled in a 2019 interview. “So here I am playing this guitar and crying. I’m about like seven, eight years old. And he looked at me and said, ‘Dang, you playing just as good as me.’ So he gave it to me — he gave me the guitar right there on the spot and bought himself another guitar. A better one, of course… He said, ‘I want you to learn every song on the radio.’ So that’s what I started doing.” 

Joe proceeded to mold three of his kids — Tito, Jackie, and Jermaine — into a vocal group, before eventually adding Marlon and Michael to form the Jackson 5. The group spent much of the mid-Sixties playing small gigs and talent shows, eventually making their way to the famed Apollo Theater and winning its Amateur Night competition in 1967. The group released a debut single, “Big Boy,” in 1968, but it failed to hit. 

Speaking to Rolling Stone in 1971, when he was just 17, Tito recalled the earliest days of the group, saying, “It was hard. Money was short. It was a drag.”

That wouldn’t last long. In 1969, the Jackson 5 signed to Motown and dropped their first of four straight Number One hits: “I Want You Back” (followed by “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I’ll Be There”). While the Jackson 5 arguably never hit the same heights as that initial run, their time with Motown was an undeniable success, with eight singles landing in the Top 10. While Tito sang with his brothers on these records, he was never fully able to play guitar for the group in the studio, with Motown opting to use session players instead.

That changed in 1976 when the Jackson 5 left Motown for Epic Records, gaining more control and creative freedom, and changing their name to the Jacksons. The Jacksons remained active through the Seventies and Eighties, notching hits like “Enjoy Yourself,” “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground),” and “State of Shock” with Mick Jagger. During this time, the lineup changed frequently, especially as Michael launched his wildly successful solo career. Tito and Jackie remained the most consistent members of the group, with Randy and Jermaine enjoying long spells as well. 

In a statement to Rolling Stone, Motown founder Berry Gordy remembered Tito as “a quiet force” in the Jackson 5’s success. “His talent as a musician was undeniable, ensuring that their live performances met the expectation of their fans who loved their records,” Gordy continued. “He was low-key and at the same time commanded respect…the same respect he showed to others. You could say Tito was the glue that held the Jackson 5 together on their journey to superstardom.”

After the Jacksons released their final album, 2300 Jackson Street, in 1989, Tito turned to session work while his three sons — Taj, Taryll, and T.J. — embraced family tradition and formed a band of their own, 3T. In 2016, Tito released a debut solo album of his own, Tito Time, which he followed-up in 2021 with Under Your Spell.