Michael Jackson’s Brother and the Jackson 5's Tito Jackson Dead at 70: A Look at His Life and Career

Michael Jackson’s brother and fellow Jackson 5 member, Tito Jackson, died at age 70 on Sunday, September 15, according to his family.  

“It’s with heavy hearts that we announce that our beloved father, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson, is no longer with us,” Jackson’s sons Taj, Taryll and TJ wrote in an Instagram caption, confirming his passing. “We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken. Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being. 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.”  

Jackson’s  death is believed to be a heart attack, sustained while driving from New Mexico to Oklahoma, as of publication.  

Before his death, Jackson was traveling around the world touring with his brothers Marlon and Jackie Jackson – both original members of The Jackson 5 –  under the name The Jacksons. Most recently, they performed in Surrey, England, on September 8. They were also set to perform in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on October 15 and in Cincinnati, Ohio, on November 1. It is unclear what is going to happen to those shows as of publication.  

The early start of Tito Jackson’s music career  

Born in 1953 in Gary, Indiana, under the name Toriano Adaryll "Tito" Jackson, the guitarist and singer fell in love with music at a very early age thanks to the Jackson 5 band’s rise to fame in the late 1960s and 1970s.  

The band, which consisted of Michael Jackson, Tito Jackson, Jackie Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Jermaine Jackson and later Randy Jackson, was best known for its songs “I Want You Back” and “ABC,” and of course launching the late Michael to staggering heights musical fame, paralleled only by the likes of The Beatles and Taylor Swift.  

“Back in the early days, when we used to play the High Chaparral and Pepper’s Lounge (two legendary showrooms on Chicago’s South Side), we had blues in our act,” Jackson recalled in 2021. “I remember that we played in Peoria, Ill., a few times and opened for Johnnie Taylor (the man who made “Who’s Makin’ Love.” We were right in the middle of that sweet R&B music, blues, and that whole thing! We did that for many years.”  

“Then we started doin’ the Jackson 5 thing and Motown, and that’s a whole different thing altogether.” 

The late guitarist was open about the family group’s fame and success, shedding light on the familial elements that came to the surface years after the “Smooth Criminal” singer’s death. Of their father, Joe Jackson, the musician admitted that the Jackson 5 patriarch whipped them with his belt, sparring the moon walker from a bulk of his ire. But, as the recently passed Jackson attested, his father – who died in 2018 – did the best he knew how to. 

“My dad will be so happy to be reunited with Michael in heaven. They are having fun right now,” the father of three said after the Jackson family patriarch died at age 89. “He will probably be trying to get new music from Michael.” 

The Jackson 5 was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1977.  

Tito Jackson goes solo  

When he wasn’t reuniting with his brothers, Jackson decided to begin touring with BB King Blues Band. He also released two solo albums, Tito Time (2016) and Under Your Spell (2021).  

“I wanted to play some music, and I wanted to be on stage again,” the singer said in 2021. “I’d been playin’ the Jackson 5 stuff for all my life practically, but the blues had been the main music in my family. I just wanted to jam, but I couldn’t get no pros to do that kinda thing."  

He also noted, "Through my music, I'm dedicated to spreading a positive message of harmony and togetherness." 

 The personal life of Tito Jackson  

Jackson was only married once in his life to Delores Martes Jackson. They were wed in 1972 and remained together until 1988. During that time, they had three children (TJ, Taj and Taryll) and shared many grandchildren.  

May Tito Jackson rest in peace.  

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