Michael Jackson’s older brother, Tito, has died just days after paying tribute to the King of Pop and thanking fans for keeping his spirit alive.
arriving at the BET 25th Anniversary Show celebrating 25 years of BET, Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA 10-26-05
The Jackson family was shocked by the death of the 70-year-old, who may have suffered a heart attack while driving from New Mexico to Oklahoma on Sunday, a friend told *Entertainment Tonight.* No official cause of death has been determined.
Six days earlier, Tito, a founding member of The Jackson 5, visited a memorial to Michael before a show in Munich with The Jacksons, which also featured his brothers Marlon and Jackie.
Tito’s sons, Taj (41), Taryll (39), and TJ (46), are members of the band 3T. They issued a tribute to their father, saying: “We are shocked, saddened, and heartbroken. Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being.”
Born in Gary, Indiana, on October 15, 1953, Toriano Adaryll Jackson grew up as the third of nine siblings, all of whom eventually pursued careers in music or other entertainment. Their parents, Joe and Katherine Jackson, moved into the 672-square-foot, two-bedroom bungalow at 2300 Jackson St. in January 1950.
Alongside his siblings Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael, Tito became a Motown sensation as one-fifth of The Jackson 5, later known as The Jacksons. The group’s four consecutive Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles—”I Want You Back,” “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I’ll Be There”—helped spark what became known as “Jacksonmania,” as the brothers sang and danced their way into the hearts of America under the strict management of their father, Joe Jackson.
at the Los Angeles Premiere of ‘This Is It’. Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles, CA. 10-27-09
Tito was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of The Jackson 5 in 1997 and earned three Grammy nominations throughout his career with the group for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group and Best Contemporary Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.
The group released 16 studio albums—10 as The Jackson 5 and six as The Jacksons—becoming household names both as a unit and as individuals. The Jacksons were a national sensation, a seminal boy band that achieved both chart-topping success and cultural influence, especially within Black communities across the country.
In addition to his work with The Jacksons, Tito embarked on a solo career, releasing the albums *Tito Time* in 2016 and *Under Your Spell* in 2021. He released new music as recently as last year, collaborating with Brazilian singer Natalia Damini on their song “Attitude” and its accompanying music video.
The guitarist and quiet presence in the group had appeared to be in good health before the tragedy. He is survived by his three sons and nine grandchildren.
—
This revision focuses on tightening the phrasing and ensuring consistency in punctuation.
