Tito Jackson, a founding member of the Jackson 5, has passed away at the age of 70

Michael Jackson’s eldest brother and founding Jackson 5 member Tito Jackson has died at the age of 70.

He is survived by three children- Taj, 41, Taryll, 39, and TJ, 46, who were in the band 3T – as well as nine grandchildren.

His children took to social media to confirm the news today, as they wrote: ‘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.

‘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.’

The star was a founding member of the Jackson 5 (Picture: Elizabeth Goodenough/Shutterstock)

Steve Manning, a longtime Jackson family friend and former Jackson family manager, told Entertainment Tonight that Jackson died on September 16.

The official cause of death has not been confirmed.

Tito was performing with Jackie Jackson and Marlon Jackson of the Jackson 5 and The Jacksons as recently as August, as he took to the stage for Fool in Love Festival at Hollywood Park Grounds in California on August 31, 2024.

He was the third eldest Jackson after Rebbie, 74, and Jackie, 73, and before Jermaine, 69, La Toya, 68, Marlon, 67 (whose twin brother Brandon died in childbirth) Brandon, 40, Michael – who died in 2009 – Randy, 68, and Janet, 58.

Former Jackson 5 drummer Jonathan ‘Sugarfoot’ Moffett took to Facebook and paid tribute.

He said: ‘There is great, great sadness in my heart, spirit, and soul tonight. My wife and I just left and walked out of a movie we were watching at a theatre just now….as she received a text from a very close friend….that my brother in heart and spirit, Tito Jackson has just passed away.

Tito is survived by his sons Taj, Taryll and TJ (Picture: Taj Jackson/Instagram)

‘I’m stunned and devastated to receive and hear this disheartening news. I love Tito like my brothers of blood relation. I’m stunned and dismayed. May God and Jesus Christ receive his soul and spirit with open outstretched arms and welcome him into Heaven’s gate…this is my most sincere prayer this night, this day, this month, and now….this year. I’m at a loss of spirits.

‘Trying to gather my thoughts, memories of him….and mental senses…my most sincere and deepest thoughts and prayers for my second mother, Katherine (my love for Katherine….is everlasting. Dear mother, I love you dearly).

‘My thoughts are with my nephews in heart and spirit, 3T and all his grandchildren. I love you all VERY much. You are my second family.

‘I love you, Tito Jackson, my brother…forever, still.’

Tito’s former wife Delores Dee Dee Jackson – who he met at high school, and is also mother to his three children – drowned in a pool at her boyfriend Don Bohana’s house in 1994.

Four years later Bohana was found guilty of second-degree murder and given 15 years to life in prison. He still maintains that he did not kill her, and was granted parole in December 2022 after 24 years behind bars.

Jackie Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Randy Jackson, Tito Jackson and Michael Jackson formed the Jackson 5 (Picture:Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns)

Talking about the death of his ex-wife – who he married in 1972 and divorced in 1988 – Tito previously called it the ‘coldest day of our lives’.

Formed in 1964, founding members of the Jackson 5 – Tito (born Toranio), Jackie, and Jermaine – were joined by Marlon and Michael soon after, with their father Joe Jackson managing them.

After entering talent competitions the band grew and ended up at the Apollo Theatre in New York, where they won a Motown recording contract and the five signed to Motown Records in 1969.

They went on to record huge hits including I Want You Back, ABC, Blame It On The Boogie, and I’ll Be There, and Tito’s guitar-playing was a key part of the band’s success.

The Jackson 5 became the first American group to have their first four singles go straight to Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Dad Joe – who died in 2018 – was notoriously tough on the five stars as their manager, but Tito reflected on his life fondly following the 89-year-old’s death.

Joe Jackson was notoriously hard on his children as The Jackson 5 manager (Picture: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Speaking about his death, Tito said: ‘He couldn’t speak but I thanked him for everything that he has done and the world he had led me to, I thanked him for all the things I learnt from him.

‘He recognised I was there and I was speaking to him. He understood what I was saying but he wasn’t able to reply.’

Michael, who died in 2009, spoke about how his father treated them in a 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey, saying how he would watch them perform with a belt in his hand and beat them with the belt ‘if you didn’t do it the right way’.

However Tito insists they had ‘made peace’ and that he and Michael’s other older brothers Jackie and Jermaine got the brunt of it.

He told The Mirror: ‘He lashed us more than anybody because we were in Gary, Indiana. There is nothing but gangs and no jobs, there are shootings on a daily basis. My father kept a grip on his older sons more than anything.

‘My father actually did a great job. And people don’t understand that because people don’t want to understand it. My father did a terrific job.’

Michael remained involved with the Jackson 5 lineup until 1983, when he started to focus on his solo career.

Following the allegations of child molestation against Michael, Tito – who had a close bond with his brother – defended him. Michael was cleared of all 14 counts of allegations against him four years before he died of cardiac arrest.

The Thriller hitmaker’s personal physician Conrad Murray was later convicted for involuntary manslaughter and he served two years in prison.

In 2019, documentary Leaving Neverland was released in which it was claimed Michael abused two men – Wade Robson and James Safechuck – when they were children.

Elizabeth Baker