Farewell to Tito Jackson, Michael’s Brother Dies at 70

He died at the age of 70, probably of a heart attack, Tito Jackson, Michael Jackson’s brother and founding member of the very famous band formed by members of their family, The Jackson 5.

He had just completed a tour in Europe with brothers Jackie and Marlon (The Jacksons). Just at the beginning of last week, while in Munich, Germany, Tito, with his brothers, «visited the beautiful memorial dedicated to our beloved brother, Michael Jackson“, she wrote on her social media. “We are deeply grateful for this special place that honors not only her memory, but our shared legacy. Thank you for keeping her spirit alive.”

Third of nine children in a family that would revolutionize pop music, with the Jackson 5the family groupwhich also included Michael, Jackie, Jermaine Jackson and Marlon (and, later, Randy Jackson), had produced very successful songs, such as I Want You Back, ABC And I’ll Be There. The band was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 and was also celebrated with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

After the success with the Jackson 5Tito pursued a solo career and worked as a record producer. In 1985, she participated as a backing vocalist in the project USA for Africa, contributing to the recording of the famous track We Are the World.

In 2003, he started making blues and funk music tours around the world. He also performed with the BB King Blues Band, from 2017 to 2019. “It was the blues that got me interested in the guitar,” he explained in an interview with Blues Blast. After the success he had with his brothers, Tito Jackson realized that “I wanted to play some music and I wanted to get back on stage. I’ve been playing Rock and Roll stuff pretty much all my life. Jackson 5, but blues was the main music in my family. I just wanted to improvisebut I couldn’t find any professionals who did that kind of stuff.”

He has released two studio albums, Titus Time in 2016 and Under Your Spell in 2021.

His latest single, Love One Anotherwas recorded in the wake of the pandemic and its “goal was to convey a message of love, unity and peace, offering a balm for difficult times”: “It is a call for people to come together, embrace love and show kindness to one another, drawing inspiration from the Jackson family’s enduring legacy. Through my music, I am committed to spreading a positive message of harmony and unity.” The music video features members of the Jackson family, celebrities such as Kris Jenner and Kim Kardashian and Tito’s three sons, Taj, TJ and Taryll, who together form the band 3Tlaunched in the 90s, of which Tito was the manager.

Even though he had reached 70 years of age, Tito had no intention of slowing down: «I like it, I still love to travel, I love that kind of stuff“, he had told Fox 5 in August, talking about the tour with his brothers. “It’s awesome.”