Tito Jackson, Member Of Beloved Pop Group The Jackson 5, Dies At 70

Tito Jackson, one of the brothers who formed the iconic pop group the Jackson 5, has died. He was seventy.

Jackson was the third of nine children, including global superstars Michael and Janet, and was raised in a musical family whose songs have sold hundreds of millions of copies.

“With heavy hearts, we announce that our dear father, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson, is no longer with us. We are astonished, sad, and heartbroken. “Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being,” his sons TJ, Taj, and Taryll Jackson said in an Instagram post late Sunday.

Tito Jackson, Member Of Beloved Pop Group The Jackson 5, Dies At 70

The Jackson 5, one of the final major groups formed by Berry Gordy’s Motown business, consisted of teenage and pre-teen brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and lead singer Michael. Gordy signed them in the late 1960s when Motown’s popularity was waning and tastes were turning away from the polished pop-soul of Motown’s heyday and towards the funkier sounds of Sly and the Family Stone.

The group’s breakout single, “I Want You Back,” was openly modeled after Sly and the Family Stone and topped the charts in 1969. The Jacksons followed up with three more No. 1 hits, “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I’ll Be There,” as well as “Mama’s Pearl” and “Never Can Say Goodbye,” which reached the top five.

Some referred to their sound as “bubblegum soul.”

By the middle of the decade, the Jackson 5’s appeal had faded, and the group, except Jermaine, had moved to Epic and renamed themselves the Jacksons. Their subsequent singles were “Enjoy Yourself,” “Lovely One,” and “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground).” Michael Jackson became a multi-platinum solo performer in the 1980s, and duets with his siblings became uncommon following the 1984 album “Victory.”

In 1997, the Jackson 5 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and long-time friend Diana Ross presented them during the ceremony.

Raised in Gary, Indiana, the Jackson 5 were led by their father, Joe Jackson, a steelworker and guitarist. Michael and his sibling La Toya would accuse him of aggressive behavior. Toriano Adaryll “Tito” Jackson was the group’s least-heard member, serving as a background singer and guitarist.

Michael Jackson died at the age of 50 on June 25, 2009. Tito Jackson told The Associated Press in December 2009 that his younger brother’s death brought the family closer together.

“Definitely, it drew us closer together. Recognising the love we have for one other when one of us is not here, what a big loss,” he added, adding that he would personally never “be at peace with it.”

“I still have moments when I can’t believe it. “So I believe that will never go away,” he said.

In 2014, Jackson stated that he and his brothers still felt Michael Jackson’s absence during their shows, which included foreign tours.

“I doubt we’ll ever get used to performing without him. He’s sorely missed,” Jackson stated, stressing that his brother’s presence remains “with us when we play.” It fills us with wonderful energy and makes us smile a lot.

Days before his death, Jackson wrote a message on Facebook from Germany on September 11, where he had visited a Michael Jackson monument with his brothers.

“Before our show in Munich, my brothers Jackie, Marlon, and I went to the lovely tribute for our beloved brother, Michael Jackson. We are grateful for this wonderful site that honours both his memory and our common legacy. Jackson wrote: “Thank you for keeping his spirit alive.”

Tito Jackson, Member Of Beloved Pop Group The Jackson 5, Dies At 70

Jackson was the latest of the nine brothers to record a solo album, with his 2016 debut, “Tito Time.” In 2017, he published a song called “One Way Street,” and in 2019, he told the Associated Press that he was working on his second album.

Jackson stated that he purposefully avoided pursuing a solo career in order to devote his time to raising his three boys, who created their music group, 3T. Jackson’s website includes a link to the single “Love One Another,” which features 3T and Stevie Wonder.

Jackson is also survived by his brothers Jermaine, Randy, Marlon, and Jackie, his sisters Janet, Rebbie, and La Toya, and his mother Katherine. Their father died in 2018.

Entertainment Tonight initially reported Jackson’s death.

SOURCE | AP