Tito Jackson, Michael Jackson‘s brother and co-founder of the Jackson 5, has died. Tito’s three sons confirmed his death in a joint statement. Tito Jackson was 70.

Tito was the third of nine children in the Jackson family, which includes global music icons Michael and Janet. As part of this musical dynasty, the Jacksons have sold hundreds of millions of records worldwide.

In a heartfelt statement shared on Instagram late Sunday, Tito’s sons, TJ, Taj, and Taryll Jackson, expressed their grief: “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved father, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson. We are devastated and heartbroken. Our father was a remarkable man who cared deeply about the well-being of others.”

THE JACKSON 5

The Jackson 5, composed of brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and lead singer Michael, were one of the last major groups to rise through Berry Gordy’s Motown empire. They were signed in the late 1960s, a time when Motown’s dominance was waning and musical tastes were shifting toward funkier sounds like those of Sly and the Family Stone.

The group’s breakthrough single, “I Want You Back,” was heavily inspired by Sly and the Family Stone, and it quickly soared to the top of the charts in 1969. The Jackson 5 followed up with three more number-one hits—”ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I’ll Be There”—and achieved additional success with top-five songs like “Mama’s Pearl” and “Never Can Say Goodbye.” Some critics dubbed their sound “bubblegum soul.”

THE RISE OF TITO & HIS BROTHERS IN HISTORY

By the mid-1970s, the Jackson 5’s popularity began to decline, prompting them to leave Motown (with the exception of Jermaine) and sign with Epic Records, where they rebranded themselves as The Jacksons. During this period, they released hits like “Enjoy Yourself,” “Lovely One,” and “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground).” Michael Jackson eventually became a global solo superstar in the 1980s, and his work with his brothers became less frequent after the release of their 1984 album, *Victory*.

In 1997, the Jackson 5 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with close friend Diana Ross introducing them at the ceremony.

Following Tito’s passing, tributes poured in. The Broadway production *MJ*, which focuses on the life of Michael Jackson, honored Tito by calling him “an icon of the music industry” on X (formerly Twitter). The production acknowledged Tito’s profound influence on generations of artists and shared a photo of him attending the show.

RIP Tito Jackson. Without his courage to defy his dad & pick up his guitar, we might not have witnessed the birth of the Jackson 5 or seen Michael Jackson become the greatest entertainer. Tito’s talent as a guitarist was the foundation of it all 🤍🕊️pic.twitter.com/wJE4PVJNIG

— 𝓥𝓮𝓻𝓸𝓷𝓲𝓬𝓪💫 | MJ fan (@iamveronica777) September 16, 2024