Tito Jackson

Toriano Adaryll "Tito" Jackson (October 15, 1953 – September 15, 2024) was an American musician.

He was an original member of the Jackson 5 (later known as the Jacksons), who rose to fame in the late 1960s and 1970s with the Motown label and later had continued success with the group on the Epic label in the late 1970s and 1980s. Tito began a solo career in 2003 performing as a blues musician. Throughout his career, he was nominated for three Grammy Awards, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Jackson 5.

Early life

Jackson was born at St. Mary's Mercy Hospital in Gary, Indiana, on October 15, 1953. He was 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.

By 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.

Solo work and other projects

Jackson began a solo career in 2003 performing as a bluesian in various clubs with his band, which included producer and guitarist Angelo Earl, and a management team that included Ed Tate. In 2007, in the United Kingdom, Jackson appeared as a judge on the BBC celebrity singing competition Just the Two of Us for series two of the show. He replaced singer Lulu, who was a judge on series one. His co-judges were vocal coach CeCe Sammy, musician Stewart Copeland, and radio DJ Trevor Nelson. In 2009, he was the executive producer of The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty, together with his brothers after Michael died.

In 2016, he had his first commercially successful solo single on the Billboard charts with the single, "Get It Baby", featuring Big Daddy Kane from his album Tito Time  becoming the ninth and final Jackson family sibling to place a solo single on the charts. The album was released in Japan late in 2016, and in the U.S on iTunes in April 2017. Subsequent to its' launch, three singles were released to radio in the United States. The first single, "When the Magic Happens", featuring Jocelyn Brown, was released on April 1, 2017. Jackson launched the album for the UK market in September 2017.

Jackson performed at the 2019 Living Legends foundation's (LLF) Annual Awards Dinner and Gala, performing his single "One Way Street" off his album Tito Time. "One Way Street" features a remix from producer Gregg Pagani, who has worked with Charlie Wilson and Johnny Gill.

On July 9, 2021, Jackson released the first single "Love One Another" from his second solo album "Under Your Spell", released August 6. The single features his brother Marlon Jackson, Kenny Neal, Bobby Rush, and Stevie Wonder. On this album he turned to blues compared to his debut album, Tito Time, which explored more pop and R&B sounds. The album "Under your spell" also features collaborations with George Benson, rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa, Grady Champion, Claudette King, The O'Jay's Eddie Levert, and Steven Powell.

On September 16, 2022, Jackson took the stage at Ground Zero Blues Club in Biloxi, Mississippi together with Kenny Neal. This was their second show from their "Straight From The Heart Tour". First show was on August 27 at Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Annex in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.Third show was on September 23, in Bogalusa, Louisiana at the Bogalusa Blues and Heritage Festival.

On March 17, 2023, Jackson teamed up with Brazilian artist Natalia Damini bringing the Motown and the early Jacksons feel back with a new song "Attitude", and a music video. This collaboration came to be because Jackson's long time friend Charve the Don is also Damini's manager. 

Personal life

Family

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 had three sons— Taj (born 1973), Taryll (born 1975), and TJ (born 1978)— who comprise the R&B/pop group 3T. Jackson had nine grandchildren.

Michael's memorial

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.

Death

On September 15, 2024, Jackson suffered a heart attack and died at the age of 70 while driving to Oklahoma from New Mexico.