Singer Tito Jackson, the older brother of the legendary Michael Jackson and member of the iconic Jackson 5, has died at the age of 70. The BBC and the US press have reported. The cause of death has not been officially released. This week, Tito visited Munich (Germany) with The Jacksons, and the brothers visited “the beautiful memorial dedicated to our beloved brother, Michael Jackson,” Tito wrote on Facebook. “We are deeply grateful for this very special place that honours not only his memory but also our shared legacy. Thank you for keeping his spirit alive.”
Known as the quietest of the Jacksons, Tito played guitar, sang and danced alongside his brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and, of course, Michael, the best known of all, who passed away in 2009. In fact, he is the only member of the original line-up of five brothers to have died before Tito, who in recent years had performed with his brothers Marlon and Jackie under the name The Jacksons, passing through Spain in 2018 for the last time.
With four consecutive hits between 1969 and 1970 (‘I Want You Back’, ‘ABC’, ‘The Love You Save’ and ‘I’ll Be There’), the Jackson 5 became the sensation of the Motown label. They ended up breaking away from that label to join Epic. Tito began recording his guitar parts on the band’s songs, since until then Motown’s studio musicians were the only ones who could do so.
Following the change of record label, from the Jackson 5 to the Jacksons, and the addition of Randy to the group, they re-entered the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Enjoy Yourself’ in 1976. ‘Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)’ in 1979 and, finally, in 1984, ‘State of Shock’, with Michael already catapulted to global success with his solo career.
Tito Jackson, su último single ‘Love One Another’
Tito was the last brother of the original line-up to release a solo album. In 2016 he released his first album, ‘Tito Time’. In 2021, Tito released another blues-oriented album, ‘Under Your Spell’, which featured illustrious guests such as Stevie Wonder, George Benson, Joe Bonamassa and his brother Marlon.
Her latest single, ‘Love One Another’, released in 2021, was accompanied by a message explaining that the song was recorded in the wake of the pandemic. She noted that her goal was to “convey a message of love, unity and peace, offering a balm for difficult times, a call for people to join hands, embrace love and show kindness to others, inspired by the enduring legacy of the Jackson family.”
