Tito Jackson, member of Jackson 5 and Michael's older brother, dead aged 70

Tito Jackson, member of the famed pop group The Jackson 5 and elder brother to superstar Michael, has died aged 70, a former manager has revealed. Longtime family friend and former manager Steve Manning revealed to Entertainment Tonight the star died on September 15 while driving from New Mexico to Oklahoma.

Although no official cause of death has been revealed , Manning claimed the star died from a heart attack mid-drive. At the time of publishing the family had yet to make a statement.

Tito was the third oldest Jackson child in the famous Jackson family, which spawned global icons Michael and Janet Jackson . Tito and his younger brother Michael were part of the legendary Motown RandB group the Jackson 5, which included in addition to them fellow brothers Jermaine, Marlon, and Jackie Jackson.

The beloved music sensation's death comes shortly after he revealed that Michael's death in 2009 continued to haunt him 15 years later.

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Tito was able to feel the King of Pop's presence whenever he hits a stage, and he could see Michael's smile in the faces of his children, TJ, Taj, and Taryll Jackson. One of the eldest Jackson siblings also continued to fight for Michael's legacy. In August Tito returned to the UK and stayed just a few miles from the O2 where the Man In The Mirror crooner was supposed to play his fateful This Is It residency. Upon his return, he opened up about what was irking him.

"The world was not kind to Michael at all. I don't know why. I would always say if we didn't have him, we sure would miss him," Tito told The Mirror last month. "His death was such a major tragedy. The world definitely missed out on a lot of goodness from him, because he wasn't just a musician or an artist, he was a loving person. He loved to give."