This is being said with great sadness but the music industry has lost another amazing musician, and true legend and icon the one and only Tito Jackson of the world famous family The Jacksons.
Toriano Adaryll "Tito" Jackson was born on October 15, 1953 he will always be remembered as an American musician, an original member of the Jackson 5 (later known as the Jacksons), who rose to fame in the late 1960's and 1970's with the Motown label and later had continued success with the group on the Epic label in the late 1970's and 1980's. Tito began a solo career in 2003 performing as a blues musician. Throughout his career, he was nominated for three Grammy Awards,[1] and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Jackson 5.
Jackson was born Toriano Adaryll Jackson at St. Mary's Mercy Hospital in Gary, Indiana, on October 15, 1953. Born the third of ten children of the Jackson family: Rebbie, Jackie, Jermaine, La Toya, Marlon, Brandon, Michael, Randy, and Janet who lived in a two-bedroom house in Gary. His father, Joseph, was a steel mill worker, and played R&B in a band, the Falcons, with his brother Luther. His mother, Katherine, is a Jehovah's Witness. She played the piano and the clarinet. At ten years of age, Tito was caught playing his father's guitar after he broke a string. After fixing the string, Joe demanded that he play for him. Once he was finished, Joe bought him his own guitar, and convinced Tito, Jackie, and Jermaine to form a singing group. He was impressed with the vocals of Jackie and Jermaine.
In 1964, Marlon and Michael both joined the group the Jackson 5 after Katherine discovered that they could sing. Katherine is a country-and-western fan, and she sang harmonies with her sons. Before Motown signed them, the brothers spent years rehearsing at home. After school they rehearsed for hours, played a gig, did homework, and got to bed.
In June 1972, Jackson married Delores "Dee Dee" Martes at the age of 18, and the couple divorced in 1988. In 1994, Martes was found deceased floating in a swimming pool. The death was originally ruled accidental. Later, Los Angeles businessman Donald Bohana was charged with and, in 1998, found guilty of second-degree murder.
The couple have three sons Taj (born 1973), Taryll (born 1975),, and TJ (born 1978) who comprise the R&B / pop group 3T. Jackson has nine grandchildren.
Michael Jackson's memorial service was held at the Staples Center on Tuesday, July 7, 2009, in Los Angeles. To honor him, Tito and his brothers Marlon, Jackie, Jermaine, and Randy Jackson served as pallbearers wearing a single spangly white glove and sunglasses.
On the 12th anniversary of Michael's passing, Jackson turned to Michael's music in remembrance he told Manchester Evening News in a 2021 interview. In the interview, Jackson says that because of his brother’s passing, the month of June is difficult to deal with. He also defended his brother from allegations levied against him.
On September 15, 2024, Jackson suffered a heart attack and died while driving to Oklahoma from New Mexico. He was 70.
