Jackson 5 Co-Founder Tito Jackson Passes Away At 70

The music and entertainment space suffered another major loss this week. Tito Jackson, co-founder of the Jackson 5 and brother of the late Michael Jackson , was confirmed dead at the age of 70.

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His sons Taj , Taryll, and TJ announced his passing in an Instagram post on Monday morning (Sept. 16). “It’s with heavy hearts that we announce that our beloved father, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson is no longer with us,” they wrote. “We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken.”

They reflected on their father being a man who cared about everyone and their well-beings before highlighting the various nicknames people had for him, “Coach Tito” and “Poppa T,” for example. “It will forever be ‘Tito Time’ for us,” they added. “Please remember to do what our father always preached and that is ‘Love One Another.’ We love you Pops.”

Tito Jackson’s sons’ Instagram post included photos of them together, old pictures of the Jackson 5, Tito performing, and his signature fedora and shades. ET reported that he died on Sunday via longtime Jackson family friend and former family manager Steve Manning. They clarified that although his cause of death was unknown, they believed he suffered a heart attack while traveling from New Mexico to Oklahoma.

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Tito Jackson’s legendary career began as part of the Jackson 5, later renamed The Jacksons. He, along with his siblings Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael would go on to secure four consecutive Billboard Hot 100 singles with tracks like “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I’ll Be There.”

He earned three Grammy nominations and his spot in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame alongside his talented siblings in 1997. Jackson continued his career alone with the solo efforts Tito Time in 2016 and Under Your Spell in 2021. Last year, he teamed up with Natalia Damini for the track “Attitude.”

VIBE sends its sincerest condolences to the Jackson family, friends, and loved ones impacted by this loss.

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