Tito Jackson, the guitarist and singer who played with his brothers in the Jackson 5, has died, The New York Times reports. Jackson’s three sons, who formed the R&B-pop band 3T in the 1990s, shared the news on that group’s social media. Jackson was 70 years old.
Tito Jackson and brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael formed the Jackson 5 in the mid-1960s and signed to Motown later in the decade, swiftly becoming one of the biggest pop groups in the United States. They debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 with four consecutive No. 1 singles—“I Want You Back,” “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I’ll Be There”—though Tito, whose main skill was as a guitarist, was not permitted by Motown to play on recordings, so primarily contributed to the group on stage. The band gained autonomy as writers, performers, and producers upon signing to Epic in 1976, three years before Michael Jackson’s solo breakout with Off the Wall precipitated the band’s dissolution.
In 1984, two years after Thriller became the best-selling album ever, Michael rejoined the band to release Victory as the Jacksons. On the subsequent tour, Michael announced it would likely be their last as a band. Remaining siblings Tito, Jackie, Jermaine, and Randy formally broke up in 1989; all six members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Diana Ross in 1997. Tito continued to perform, both with his own blues band and fronting the B.B. King Blues Band. He released his first solo album, Tito Time, in 2016, and a second, Under Your Spell, three years later. He had been touring with some of his brothers as the Jacksons as recently as last week.
Tito Jackson’s sons, 3T, wrote on Instagram, “It’s with heavy hearts that we announce that our beloved father, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson is no longer with us. We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken. Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being. Some of you may know him as Tito Jackson from the legendary Jackson 5, some may know him as ‘Coach Tito’ or some know him as ‘Poppa T.’ Nevertheless, he will be missed tremendously. It will forever be ‘Tito Time’ for us. Please remember to do what our father always preached and that is ‘Love One Another.’ We love you Pops.”
