The Jackson 5, one of the most prominent pop groups that swept the globe in the mid-1960s, produced numerous hit singles still adored by fans worldwide, including ABC, Blame It On The Boogie, and I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.
However, on Monday, September 16, the family was struck by a devastating loss when founding member Tito passed away at the age of 70 . It's believed that the late star allegedly suffered a heart attack while driving from New Mexico to Oklahoma. The sad news was confirmed by the Jackson 5's former manager Steve Manning to ET.
As the world grieves the loss of this incredible musician , Daily Star delves into the lives of the Jackson 5, over six decades after their formation.
Brotherly Band
The famous pop group was established back in 1964 and quickly became a global sensation. Their hit single, I Want You Back, which topped the charts in 1969, made fans fall head over heels.
Following their breakout success, the Jackson 5 franchise was born, enriching the world with its presence.
The American pop band consists of members of the male Jackson family. Initially formed by the three older brothers Jackie, Tito, and Jermaine, their younger siblings Michael and Marlon joined later as they grew older.
The family band became a household name during their heyday in the 1960s and 1970s. Despite their global popularity, they only received two Grammy nominations throughout their career.
Sadly, the band didn't win any of these nominations during their time together. Their final record was released in 1987, following the departure of Michael and Marlon from the group.
Michael announced his exit from the band in December 1984, with Marlon leaving just a month later.
Jackie Jackson
Born in 1951, Sigmund better known as Jackie Jackson is the eldest of the five brothers. The 73-year-old founding member of the band also had a successful solo career.
His first self-titled album was released in 1973, followed by a second album in 1989 titled Be The One. According to Hollywood Life, Jackie collaborated with musician Brezz on a track called Big City After Dark in 2007.
He also produced movie soundtracks for Touch and Go and The Running Man. He continues to work in the music industry as a producer.
In 2012, he reunited with his brothers Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon for a series of performances in Las Vegas.
Tito Jackson
Toriano Adaryll 'Tito' Jackson, born in 1953, was a talented guitarist. According to Hollywood Life, his father encouraged him to join the band with his two older brothers at its inception.
Like many of his siblings, Tito Jackson pursued a solo career, releasing two albums under his own name: "Tito Time" in 2016 and "Under Your Spell" five years later. His music primarily focused on blues and R&B hits.
He married Delores 'Dee Dee' Martes in 1972 when he was just 18, but they separated in 1988. The family faced tragedy when Delores was found dead in a swimming pool in 1994. Initially ruled an accident, businessman Donald Bohana was later charged with her murder in 2000.
Tito tragically died on September 16 from a heart attack. He had something predicted his own death, as he said in an interview with The Mirror last month: "I plan to be like BB King – play music until I die. Like Frank Sinatra or Sammy Davis Jr or Dean Martin. It’s fun, it’s peace of mind, it’s pleasure. I think, for an artist, music extends their lives.”
Jermaine Jackson
Jermaine La Juane Jackson, born to mother Katherine Jackson on December 11, 1954, is another key vocalist in the famous family. Although Michael is often recognized for his vocals, 69 year old Jermaine also contributed significantly to the band's biggest hits.
He left the band in 1976 when his brothers signed with CBS, choosing to stay with Motown records, but rejoined the band in 1984. His most recent solo album, "I Wish You Love," was released in 2012.
Outside of his music career, Jermaine has been married and divorced three times and is a proud father to seven children.
Marlon Jackson
Marlon David Jackson, the sixth child of Katherine, was born on March 12, 1957. Unlike his siblings, Marlon had a brief stint as a solo artist at 67 years old.
The artist has only one solo album to his name, Baby Tonight, released in 1987. Marlon shared a deep bond with his late brother Michael. As per Hollywood Life, Marlon shifted his focus to business ventures later in life. He established the Major Broadcasting Cable Network in 1999, which was later rebranded as the Black Family Channel before being sold off in 2007.
It's believed that Marlon currently heads the Study Peace Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting peace and unity globally.
Michael Jackson
Undeniably, Michael was the most renowned member of the band before his untimely death at age 50 on June 25, 2009. Born on August 29, 1958, he embarked on an extraordinary music career from the tender age of six.
He quickly rose to become one of the most iconic artists in music history, securing his place in the hall of fame. He bagged a total of 13 Grammys during his lifetime, including a posthumous lifetime achievement award in 2010.
Several of his chart-topping singles, such as Billie Jean, Beat It, and Smooth Criminal, broke records for their longevity at number one. His 1982 album Thriller continues to be the best-selling album ever, with the single achieving platinum status a staggering 34 times throughout his career.
However, the singer's life took a tragic turn when he developed an addiction to painkillers. In 2009, Michael succumbed to cardiac arrest after his doctor, Conrad Murray, administered a lethal mix of sedatives.
The man had overdosed on Propofol and benzodiazepines, leading to his personal physician being charged with involuntary manslaughter in February 2010 and subsequently found guilty. The doctor was sentenced to four years in prison but was released on parole in October 2013.
An autopsy of Jackson revealed that he wore a wig later in life, with police describing the hair on his head as "sparse and connected to a wig." It's thought that the star began wearing a wig in 1984 after his hair caught fire while filming a Pepsi commercial, resulting in second and third-degree burns.
Jackson was dancing down a staircase when fireworks exploded prematurely, igniting the gel in his hair. At the time of his death, he weighed only 8st 10lbs and was found to have nothing but partially dissolved pills in his stomach, having consumed just one small meal per day.
His body was littered with puncture marks from painkiller injections, and signs of his plastic surgery also indicated he had been in "terminal decline" for years, according to a source. His knees and shins were covered in unexplained bruises, and cuts were found on his back, possibly indicating a recent fall.
Investigators discovered a sealed bottle of urine next to the bed where the singer died, along with boxes of catheters, disposable needles, and an oxygen tank.
Janet Jackson
The Jackson brothers also have a sister, Janet Jackson, who became a music sensation in her own right, despite not being part of the band. Janet was too young to be included in the family group when they signed their record deal as she was just a baby.
Born in 1966, she is the youngest of Joe Jackson's ten children. Her father began forming his older children into musical acts two years before her birth.
Now 58, the musician has released several number one hit singles such as That's The Way Love Goes and Together Again. The dark-haired star later transitioned into Hollywood, featuring in popular films like The Nutty Professor and Poetic Justice.
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