Tito Jackson, a founding member of the iconic pop group the Jackson 5, has passed away at the age of 70, as confirmed by his family on Monday.
Family members informed NBC Los Angeles about his death, and his sons shared the news on Instagram, expressing their grief with a heartfelt message. “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,” wrote TJ, Taj, and Taryll. They emphasized that “he will be missed tremendously. It will forever be ‘Tito Time’ for us.”
Tito was part of the legendary group that included his brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael, who skyrocketed to fame in the late 1960s and 1970s with popular hits.
During his career, Jackson was nominated for three Grammy Awards and received an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 as a member of the Jackson 5.
The group is best known for their chart-topping songs like “ABC” and “I Want You Back,” featuring a young Michael Jackson when they joined the Motown label in 1969. The Jackson family grew up in Gary, Indiana, with their strict father, Joe Jackson, managing their careers.
Despite the Jackson 5’s immense success, Michael Jackson’s solo career overshadowed the group, with Michael becoming one of the most renowned music stars of the 20th century before his passing at age 50 in 2009.
Tito Jackson eventually carved out his own path as a solo artist, launching a blues music career in 2003 after being restricted from playing guitar on Jackson 5 recordings in favor of session musicians.