Tito Jackson, Original Member of the Jackson 5, Dies at 70

Tito Jackson, Original Member of the Jackson 5, Dies at 70

As a lifelong fan of the Jackson family, hearing about Tito Jackson’s passing leaves me feeling like I’ve lost a dear friend. Growing up with the Jackson 5 and later The Jacksons, their music was an integral part of my childhood, filling our home with joy, rhythm, and harmony. The memories of watching Tito strum his guitar on stage, his infectious smile lighting up the room, are etched deeply into my heart.


70-year-old Tito Jackson, the sibling of Michael and Janet Jackson and a musician known for his work as both a singer and guitarist in the significant pop groups The Jackson 5 and later The Jacksons, passed away.

According to long-standing companion and manager Steve Manning, Tito Jackson passed away on Sunday during a journey from New Mexico to Oklahoma. (Easy read)

3T band members, Taj, Taryll, and TJ, who are part of the R&B group 3T, announced on social media the passing of their father, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson. In a heartfelt statement, they expressed their deep sorrow: “We are devastated to share that our cherished father, Tito Jackson, is gone. We are stunned, grieving, and heartsick. Our father was an extraordinary individual who valued every person’s well-being. Many of you may have known him as Tito Jackson from the iconic Jackson 5, others might know him as “Coach Tito” or simply “Poppa T.” Regardless, his absence will be deeply felt. Forevermore, we will remember it as ‘Tito Time.’ In honoring our father’s teachings, we ask that you continue to practice kindness and love, as he always encouraged: ‘Love One Another.’

Born into one of the most musically talented families in American history, Tito Jackson was a founding member of The Jackson 5, a groundbreaking Black pop act that captured hearts across America with four consecutive No. 1 hits like “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I’ll Be There.” As a group, they paved the way for future boy bands by establishing a blueprint for success. Later in his career, Tito pursued a solo path, and his musical impact lived on when his sons formed the R&B group 3T.

Growing up as the third-born in a family of ten children in Gary, Indiana, born under the name Toriano Adaryll Jackson on October 15, 1953, I, Tito Jackson, was raised by my parents Katherine and Joe. Among my talented siblings were Jermaine, Marlon, Michael, Jackie, Brandon, Randy, La Toya, Rebbie, and Janet.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but reminisce about the incredible journey of The Jackson 5. After years of tireless performances and triumphing in numerous talent competitions, their fortunes took a monumental turn in 1969 when they were offered an exclusive seven-year contract with Berry Gordy’s legendary Motown Records. This marked the beginning of an era that would echo through the halls of music history.

Tito Jackson, Original Member of the Jackson 5, Dies at 70

At the height of their fame, The Jackson 5 experienced global success. Their concerts in the U.K. and Europe were always sold out, and wherever they traveled, they were surrounded by enthusiastic fans.

Despite being a skilled guitarist himself, Tito was not the one strumming the guitars in the initial Jackson 5 recordings. Instead, those tracks were performed by a series of session musicians under the direction of Joe Jackson and Motown.

During their time with the Jackson 5, Michael and Jermaine started individual careers (with Michael starting in 1971 and Jermaine following in 1972). As the 1970s progressed, the band’s fame began to diminish, and Tito and the other members grew restless under their exclusive contract with Motown. Seeking a fresh path, the group departed from Motown for Epic Records in 1975, but were compelled to rebrand themselves as The Jacksons since Jermaine remained with Motown to pursue his solo career. This left room for Randy to take on a more significant role within the band, allowing them to continue as a five-member group.

Tito Jackson, Original Member of the Jackson 5, Dies at 70

During the Epic years, The Jacksons put out two albums – “The Jacksons” in 1976 and “Goin’ Places” in 1977. These records seemed to extend the band’s creative slump, as they kept on performing and recording songs that were written for them. However, the 1978 album, “Destiny,” marked a significant change, as it was the first time The Jacksons had complete creative control over their work. This album became an enormous success worldwide, with the popular singles “Blame It on the Boogie” and “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)” being born from it. The album sold more than 4 million copies globally and launched a global tour for the band. Interestingly, Tito had four co-writing credits on the album as part of the band.

After their smash hit album “Destiny” in 1979, The Jacksons released another successful album titled “Triumph” in 1980. Following the massive success of Michael Jackson’s debut solo album “Off the Wall” from 1979, “Triumph” saw the brothers contributing to both vocals and songwriting on several tracks, with Michael taking the lead role. The album included hits like “Lovely One”, “Heartbreak Hotel”, the lasting tune “Can You Feel It”, and “Walk Right Now”. Interestingly, Tito earned a co-writing credit for the song “Everybody” on this album.

Following the Motown 25 television special in 1983, Jermaine Jackson re-joined The Jacksons, resulting in a six-member group. This revamped act then released their album titled Victory in 1984. Notably, this record capitalized on the unprecedented success of Michael’s solo album, Thriller. The result was an enormous commercial success, with singles such as “State of Shock,” “Torture,” “Body” and “Wait.” In the album, Tito contributed to production, writing, and singing on the song “We Can Change The World.”

More to come…

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2024-09-16 09:25