Pop star Tito Jackson who was a member of the Jackson 5 and brother to superstar Michael died at the age of 70 on Sunday, a former manager has revealed.
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 R&B group the Jackson 5, which included in addition to them fellow brothers Jermaine, Marlon, and Jackie Jackson. Longtime family friend and former Jackson family manager Steve Manning revealed to Entertainment Tonight that he died on September 15. An official cause of death has yet to be determined. However, Steve thinks that Tito had a heart attack while he was driving from New Mexico to Oklahoma.
Posting to Facebook former Jackson 5 drummer Jonathan 'Sugarfoot' Moffett said: "There is great, great sadness in my heart, spirit, and soul tonight. My wife and I just left and walked out of a movie we were watching at a theater just now….as she received a text from a very close friend….that my brother in heart and spirit, Tito Jackson has just passed away.
"I’m stunned and devastated to receive and hear this disheartening news. I love Tito like my brothers of blood relation. I’m stunned and dismayed. May God and Jesus Christ receive his soul and spirit with open out stretched arms and welcome him into Heaven’s gate…this is my most sincere prayer this night, this day, this month, and now….this year. I’m at a loss of spirits.
"Trying to gather my thoughts, memories of him….and mental senses…my most sincere and deepest thoughts and prayers for my second mother, Katherine (my love for Katherine….is everlasting. Dear mother, I love you dearly). My thoughts are with my nephews in heart and spirit, 3T and all his grandchildren. I love you all VERY much. You are my second family.
"I love you, Tito Jackson, my brother…forever, still. "
Producer Questlove also paid tribute, saying: "All of the Jackson brothers are heroes to me. I really don’t have the words right now. May the entire Jackson family find comfort & peace In this moment. Thank You Tito."
The beloved music sensation's death comes shortly after he revealed that Michael's death in 2009 continued to haunt him 15 years later.
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."
It's debatable whether or not Michael's death had brought the Jacksons closer together as family or tore them further a part. Throughout the years since the record-breaking artist's death there have been reports family feuds, fueled by court cases. The family drama saga involved a battle between the estate's executors and the Jacksons' matriarch Katherine, 93, over who controls the finances.
Tito made it clear at the time that he was fed-up with what was going on. He said: "I don't have time to put it in my head. We know ourselves and we know each other. It just angers me. There are not too many people that I trust. Learning from this business... Well, there are a whole lot of wealthy people in show business that are not artists, so you wonder how they got all their wealth."
Tito still continued to perform with The Jacksons. Additionally, he maintained a good relationship with Michael's children Prince, Paris, and Bigi "Blanket" Jackson. He would visit them whenever he flew to Los Angeles from his home in Oklahoma.
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