In Memoriam: Tito Jackson

Jackson 5 singer and co-founder Tito Jackson died on Sunday, September 15, 2024. His sons Taj, Taryll, and T.J. Jackson confirmed his passing. He was 70 years old.

“We are shocked, saddened, and heartbroken. Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well being,” Jackson’s sons posted on Instagram.

Tito and his brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael Jackson made up the Jackson 5, later the Jacksons. The family quintet became a famous Motown singing group when they were teens and preteens in the late 1960s and ‘70s. The band set off Jacksonmania with smooth harmonies, catchy hooks, and dancing with style and swagger.

Jackson was born Toriano Adaryll Jackson on October 15, 1953, in Gary, Indiana. He was the third of 10 children born to Joe (who acted as the Jackson 5 manager) and Katherine Jackson. The famous family also includes Janet, La Toya, Randy, Rebbie, and Brandon Jackson.

The Jackson 5 had four consecutive Billboard No. 1 singles with “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I’ll Be There.” From 1969 to 1989, the Jackson 5 (later the Jacksons) released 16 studio albums, and were nominated for three Grammy awards. The band toured constantly through the ‘70s and into the early ‘80s, then reunited for a tour in 2012. Considered one of the most iconic boy bands in history, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in ’97.

As a solo act, Jackson released the albums Tito Time in 2016 and Under Your Spell in 2021, and he collaborated with Brazilian singer Natalia Damini for the song “Attitude” in 2023. He and brothers Jackie and Marlon were scheduled to perform in concert in Atlantic City, New Jersey and Cincinnati, Ohio in the fall of 2024.