Tito Jackson was a singer and guitarist best known for being part of the hit-making group The Jackson 5, who enjoyed four No. 1 hits and launched the career of pop icon Michael Jackson (1958-2009).
- Died: September 15, 2024 (Who else died on September 15?)
- Details of death: Died of a heart attack at the age of 70.
- We invite you to share condolences for Tito Jackson in our Guest Book.
Tito Jackson’s legacy
Toriano Adaryll Jackson, better known as Tito, inadvertently sparked the formation of The Jackson 5 when he played his father’s guitar in secret and broke a string. When his dad, Joe, caught him and discovered Jackson’s talent with the instrument, he encouraged him to begin playing music with his siblings Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael. The Jackson 5 – originally named The Jackson Brothers – were born.
Enduring a rigorous practice schedule and driven by Jackson’s rhythms on guitar, the band enjoyed enormous success throughout the 1970s. They secured four straight No. 1 hits and landed 17 songs in the Top 40 in their first five years together, including classics like “ABC,” “I Want You Back,” and “I’ll Be There.” Jackson continued to write, record and perform with the family band – which changed its name to The Jacksons and added brother Randy after Jermaine left – until 1989.
The third of 10 kids, Jackson came from a family filled with musical talent. In addition to his bandmate brothers, Jackson’s sisters – Rebbie, La Toya, and Janet – all enjoyed successful careers in music. Janet Jackson, like Michael, rose to become one of the biggest pop stars in history.
Post-band, Jackson was a solo blues musician. He released two albums, “Tito Time” and “Under Your Spell,” and had two singles hit the Top 30 on Billboard’s Adult R&B charts (“Get It Baby” and “One Way Street”). He is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Jackson 5, and his three sons, Taj, Taryll, and TJ, make up the pop group 3T.
Tributes to Tito Jackson
Full obituary: The New York Times
