Tito Jackson, one of the founding members of the legendary family group the Jackson 5, passed away on Sunday at the age of 70. Alongside his brothers Michael, Jermaine, Jackie, and Marlon, Tito played a pivotal role in shaping the iconic sound of the band. His contributions to the music industry will be remembered and cherished for generations to come.
“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,” his sons TJ, Taj and Taryll said in a statement posted on Instagram late Sunday.
Recently, he had been performing alongside his brothers Marlon and Jackie as part of the Jacksons. Just a week ago, they had a show in England. In addition to his work with the Jacksons, he had also been recording and performing as a blues guitarist. He often played under his own name or with the B.B. King Blues Band.
Tito Jackson captivated audiences worldwide with his guitar playing, singing, and mesmerizing dance moves as a member of the Jackson 5. The late ’60s and early ’70s marked the pinnacle of their success, with a string of chart-topping hits. Their impressive streak included four consecutive No. 1 hits: “I Want You Back” in 1969, followed by “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I’ll Be There” in 1970. The release of “Dancing Machine” in 1974 also achieved remarkable success, reaching the second spot on the charts. While young Michael received the majority of the spotlight during this period, the chemistry and choreography of Tito and his less prominent brothers were vital components of their triumph on shows like “The Ed Sullivan Show” and other TV variety series.
After Motown changed their label to Epic and the Jackson 5 became the Jacksons, with the addition of Randy, the group achieved more success on the Billboard Hot 100. They reached the top 10 with songs like “Enjoy Yourself” in 1976, “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)” in 1979, and “State of Shock” in 1984, which was a collaboration with Mick Jagger and more of a Michael solo project. The Victory Tour in 1984 marked the end of the Jacksons as a superstar act, as Michael’s solo career took off with the success of “Thriller.” Although Michael left the group after the tour, different versions of the family continued to perform and record at different times.
Tito entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, along with the other members of the Jackson 5. Unfortunately, Michael, the only member from the original lineup of five brothers, passed away in 2009.
Tito was aware that being one of the less prominent members of the family combo, his name often became the subject of jokes. In a 2018 interview with the Jitney, he reflected on his position, saying, “I’ve always been the quietest member of the group, so people make jokes about me.” Tito also shared the impact of a comment made by his favorite basketball player, Charles Barkley, who once questioned, “If Tito wasn’t in the Jackson 5, would we miss him?” This remark deeply affected Tito, leaving him crushed.
Tito’s guitar playing was initially restricted to the Jackson 5’s live performances since Motown didn’t permit the brothers to write or play instruments on their early hits. However, when the brothers parted ways with Motown and signed with Epic in the mid-70s, Tito started contributing his guitar parts to their recordings.
Tito released his first solo album, “Tito Time,” in 2016, making him the last sibling from the original lineup to do so. This album showcased his passion for the blues, a genre that Tito embraced and emphasized in the later years of his life.
Tito explained to the Jitney that he didn’t pursue a solo career when he got married at 18 because he wanted to be around his three sons. However, his recent record, “Tito Time,” which features the first single he did with Big Daddy Kane called “Get It Baby,” has been doing pretty well. In fact, the Alabama band even plays it at halftime during their football games, and Tito finds it quite enjoyable to see the band and the cheerleaders dancing to his song.
Tito Jackson, the third child of Joe and Katherine Jackson, was born on October 15, 1953, in Gary, Indiana. At the age of 10, Tito discovered his passion for playing the guitar. His father, Joe, recognized his talent when he caught Tito fooling around with one of his guitars and decided to buy him one of his own.
Tito motivated his three sons to pursue careers in the music industry. Taj, Taryll, and TJ, his sons with wife Delores “Dee Dee” Jackson, formed the group 3T. Under the guidance of their father who served as their manager, 3T released their debut album titled “Brotherhood.” Co-produced by Michael Jackson and released through his MJJ Music label imprint, the album achieved gold certification in multiple countries, including the U.K. Following the success of their debut, 3T independently released additional albums in 2004 and 2015.
In a cover-story interview with Blues Blast magazine in 2021, Tito shared the story behind his quiet return to music.
“I needed a break after the Victory Tour, but it ended up lasting much longer than I anticipated. The urge to play music and be on stage again became unbearable. While I had been performing Jackson 5 songs for most of my life, the blues had always been the heart and soul of my family’s music. All I wanted was to have a jam session, but finding professional musicians to join me proved to be a challenge.”
When I was living in Oxnard, California, it wasn’t a bustling city like Los Angeles. So, I decided to form a small blues band with my buddies. Music was more of a side gig for them, as they had regular jobs during the week and would play the drums on weekends. I didn’t want to disrupt their lives and take them away from the benefits they had been accumulating for 15-20 years, so I had to work within those limitations. Initially, we mainly played at weddings and church benefits, slowly building up our reputation as blues musicians. Eventually, after 11 years, I had established enough of a name for myself to land gigs in Japan and France, and that’s when I finally recorded my first album.
Tito explained that he had a difficult time choosing between R&B and the blues. As a result, he initially released the album “Tito Time” which paid homage to the classic styles of the Jacksons, including a collaboration with Big Daddy Kane. However, Tito always had a desire to create a blues album. He stated, “I can always do blues because it’s a genre of music that doesn’t have an age. The older you are, the more acceptable it is.” Ultimately, Tito followed his passion for the blues and released his second and final solo album, “Under Your Spell.” He expressed, “My love truly lies within that genre of music.”
