Tito Jackson, who rose to stardom alongside his brothers in the Jackson 5, has died. He was 70.
Jackson’s sons shared news of his death on Sunday night, Sept. 15, in a statement 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,” Jackson’s sons TJ, Taj and Taryll, who made up the musical group 3T, said in the post.
The statement continued, “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.”
Related: Tito Jackson Remembered for Helping to ‘Define’ R&B Music in the 1970s
Entertainment Tonight, which was the first outlet to report news of Jackson’s death, said he passed away after suffering an apparent heart attack.
Steve Manning, a longtime Jackson family friend and former Jackson family manager, told the outlet that Tito died Sunday when he suffered a heart attack while driving from New Mexico to Oklahoma.
The singer was born Toriano Adaryll Jackson on Oct. 15, 1953 in Gary, Indiana.
He was one of Joe and Katherine Jackson’s 10 children, including Rebbie, Jackie, Jermaine, La Toya, Marlon, Brandon, Michael, Randy, and Janet.
Tito began performing as a child with his brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael.
Once the Jackson 5 signed with Motown in 1969, the family went from poverty in Indiana to riches and settled in Los Angeles.
Managed by their strict father Joe Jackson, the group released several hits, including “Dancing Machine,” “ABC,” “I Want You Back” and “I’ll Be There.”
On his personal website, Tito Jackson said one of the highlights of his career was taking the stage for a Jacksons reunion performance on the television special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever in 1983.
The Jackson 5 was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.
The full statement from Tito’s sons is below:
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