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Tito Jackson, one of the brothers who formed the beloved pop band the Jackson 5, has died at the age of 70.
Tito The third of nine Jackson children, including world superstars Michael and his sister Janet, he was part of a musical family whose songs are still beloved today.
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce that our beloved father, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson, is no longer with us. We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken. Our father was a wonderful man who cared about everyone and their well-being,” his children TJ, Taj and Tarell said in a statement. Posted on Instagram Late Sunday.
The Jackson 5 included brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael. The family band, which was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, produced several No. 1 hits in the 1970s including “ABC,” “I Want You Back” and “I’ll Be There.”
The Jackson 5 became one of the biggest names in music under the guidance of their father, Joe Jackson, a steelworker and guitarist who supported his wife and nine children in Gary, Indiana. As the family’s musical career took off, they moved to California.
Born Toriano Adariel “Tito” Jackson on October 15, 1953, he was the lesser-known member of the band as a background vocalist who played guitar. His brothers embarked on solo careers, including Michael, who became one of the world’s most famous performers and is known as the King of Pop.
Michael Jackson died at the age of 50 on June 25, 2009.
Speaking to The Associated Press in December 2009, Jackson said the death of his younger brother had brought the family closer together.
“I would definitely say it has brought us closer together. To realize that the love we feel for each other when one of us is not here, what a loss,” he said, adding that he personally will never “be at peace with that.”
“There are still moments where I can’t believe what happened. So I think this will never go away,” he said.
In 2014, Jackson said that he and his brothers still felt Michael Jackson’s absence in their shows, which continued with international tours.
“I don’t think we’ll ever get used to performing without him. We miss him so much,” he said, noting that his spirit “is with us when we perform. It gives us so much positive energy and puts so many smiles on our faces.”
Days before his death, Jackson posted a message on his Facebook page from Munich, Germany, on September 11, where he visited a Michael Jackson memorial with his brothers.
“Before our show in Munich, my brothers Jackie and Marlon and I visited the beautiful memorial dedicated to our beloved brother Michael Jackson. We are so grateful for this special place that honors not only his memory, but also our shared legacy. Thank you for keeping his spirit alive,” he wrote.
Tito Jackson was the last of the nine Jackson siblings to release a solo project with his 2016 debut album, “Tito Time.” He also released a song in 2017 called “One Way Street,” He told the Associated Press In 2019 he was working on his second album.
Jackson said he deliberately refrained from pursuing a solo career because he wanted to focus on raising his three sons: T.J., Taj, and Tarell, who formed their own musical group called 3T. Jackson’s website offers a link to a single featuring 3T and Stevie Wonder called “Love One Another.”
Tito Jackson is also survived by his brothers Jermaine, Randy, Marlon and Jackie, his sisters Janet, Rebbie and LaToya, and their mother Katherine. He died in 2018..
Entertainment Tonight was the first to report Jackson’s death.
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