Tito Jackson’s Sons Honor Him With Heartfelt Tribute Following Death
Tito Jackson’s three sons are reflecting on their father’s legacy following his death at the age of 70. In an emotional tribute to their dad, a member of the renowned family band The Jackson 5 and the brother of Michael and Janet Jackson, Taj, TJ, and Taryll expressed their profound sorrow, stating they are “shocked, saddened and heartbroken.”
Entertainment Tonight, which was one of the first to report the news, revealed that Tito passed away on Sunday, September 15, from what appears to be a heart attack.
In a joint message shared on their band 3T’s Instagram account, Taj, TJ, and Taryll 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.”
They continued, “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 brothers ended their message with “Your boys,” and included the hashtags, “#titojackson #titotime #loveoneanother.”
Tito managed his sons’ band 3T, and all three appeared in the 2015 reality series The Jacksons: Next Generation, which followed them as they navigated their music careers and family life under the Jackson legacy.
The Instagram post included a carousel of images, including nostalgic photos of Tito with Taj, TJ, and Taryll during their childhood and the early days of 3T. Other images featured Tito as a member of The Jackson 5, alongside Michael, Jackie Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, and Marlon Jackson (and later, Randy Jackson), as well as pictures of Taj, TJ, and Taryll performing with their father. The final image in the carousel showcased Tito’s signature bowler hat and sunglasses.
The first picture in the carousel was also shared on the 3T account’s Instagram Stories with the caption, “We love you @poppat [heart emoji].”
Tito shared his sons with his late ex-wife Dee-Dee Martes-Jackson. In the months before his passing, Tito had been performing with his brothers Jackie and Marlon as The Jacksons. The group had most recently performed on September 8 in Surrey, England, at the Boogietown Festival, and had upcoming performances scheduled for October 25 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and November 1 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The trio performed several of The Jackson 5’s classic hits, including “I Want You Back,” as well as Michael Jackson’s solo tracks like “Rock with You.”
Many fand and fellow celebrities shared memories and condolences after learning of the news on social media.
Artist Al B Sure took to the family’s post and commented, “Send my Love and sincere condolences to you and the family Lil brother! Popz was such a LOVING, CONSISTENT and SOLID MAN!!! Rest in Power Legend.”
Actress Yvette Nicole Brown shared her condolences writing, “Praying for you all. So sorry for your profound loss. Heartbreaking news.”
