Tito Jackson, Member Of The Jackson 5, Dies Of Heart Attack While Driving At 70

Tito Jackson, brother of Michael Jackson and founding member of The Jackson 5, died of a heart attack on Sunday. He was driving on a highway in New Mexico to his home in Oklahoma and had just pulled over when he died. He was 70 years old.

Before his death, Tito had been singing with his brothers, Jackie Jackson and Marlon Jackson, performing as recently as Sept. 8 in Surrey, England. The trio reportedly had appearances set for Oct. 25 in New Jersey and Nov. 1 in Ohio.

Earlier this week in Munich, Germany, Tito and his brothers “visited the beautiful memorial dedicated to our beloved brother, Michael Jackson,” he wrote on Facebook. “We’re deeply grateful for this special place that honors not only his memory but also our shared legacy. Thank you for keeping his spirit alive.”

Tito’s legacy lives on in the music of The Jackson 5, which featured Michael, Jackie, Marlon and Jermaine Jackson. The family pop group rose to fame with classics like “I Want You Back,” “ABC” and “I’ll Be There.” They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Following the band’s retirement, Tito went on to have a solo career and released two studio albums, Tito Time in 2016 and Under Your Spell in 2021. His last single, “Love One Another,” was released in 2021.

“It’s a call for people to join hands, embrace love and exhibit kindness to one another, drawing inspiration from the enduring legacy of the Jackson Family,” he said of the song in its YouTube description.

Tito continued to do what he loved until the day he died. He is survived by his three sons, Taj, TJ and Taryll, as well as his remaining siblings.