In the wake of Michael Jackson’s brother’s passing, new details concerning the tragedy have emerged that paint a clearer picture of what happened. However, the death investigation is still ongoing.
Since the sad news of musical legend Tito Jackson’s death has been publicized, online sources have shared more information about what happened before he passed. According to a People magazine article, Tito, who shared a final picture on social media days before his demise, was at a shopping center in New Mexico when things took a dark turn.
A press release from the Gallup Police Department, which People obtained, states that Tito, who died at 70 on September 15, suffered a medical emergency at the shopping center earlier that night.
An officer from the Gallup Police Department was reportedly alerted that a person near the American Heritage Plaza required medical attention and had promptly called for an ambulance. This took place around 6:15 p.m. on the Sunday Tito passed.
After the individual was transported to a local medical facility, he was pronounced dead and was later identified as Toriano “Tito” Jackson (Tito’s full name).
Although the police report did not disclose Tito’s cause of death, preliminary investigations are still underway. This also means that investigators are still analyzing electronic and physical evidence and witnesses are still being interviewed.
When the public first heard about Tito’s sudden death, it was initially reported that The Jackson 5 icon had died while driving back from New Mexico to Oklahoma.
At this time, his cause of death, as is the case now, had not been listed. However, a longtime family friend and former manager of the Jacksons named Steve Manning shared how he believes Tito passed due to a heart attack.
BREAKING: Tito Jackson has died at the age of 70.
Steve Manning, a longtime Jackson family friend and former Jackson family manager, tells ET that Tito passed away today. While an official cause of death has not yet been determined, Manning believes that Tito suffered a heart… pic.twitter.com/coZCZm3T9i
— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) September 16, 2024
After Tito’s death had been confirmed, the late artist’s three sons, Taj, Taryll, and TJ Jackson paid a heartfelt tribute to him on Instagram, which honored their dearly missed father’s everlasting impact and legacy.
The inspirational musician was last photographed on September 9, 2024, in Munich, Germany, just six days before his passing.
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They wrote, “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.”
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Like Taj, Taryll, and TJ, fans around the world are mourning Tito’s passing and have sent condolences to the late star’s sons. The three sons, who are part of the band 3T, will carry on their father’s musical legacy through their own work, further honoring Tito’s influence and impact on their lives and careers.
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Aside from being a doting dad, Tito, who was married to Dee Dee Jackson, remained a fierce advocate for his brother Michael Jackson’s legacy. Before he died, Tito spoke about how every time he stepped on stage, he felt Michael’s presence and often saw his smile reflected in children’s faces.
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Even more than a decade after Michael’s passing, Tito continued to feel his loss deeply. In August 2024, he said, “The world was not kind to Michael at all. I don’t know why. I would always say if we didn’t have him, we sure would miss him. His death was such a major tragedy.”
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Tito, who adored Michael, added, “The world definitely missed out on a lot of goodness from him, because he wasn’t just a musician or an artist, he was a loving person. He loved to give.” When it came to celebrating his brother, Tito often encouraged fans to come together and enjoy music.
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He firmly believed his late brother still reigned as the King of Pop, as Michael’s timeless music still ensures the endurance of his legacy to this day. Tito was confident that Michael’s influence would remain immortal and would continue to inspire generations.
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Like Michael, Tito, who was also an actor and producer, was dedicated to his craft. He had no intention of leaving the stage while he was still alive, noting, “I plan to be like BB King – play music until I die. Like Frank Sinatra or Sammy Davis Jr or Dean Martin. It’s fun, it’s peace of mind, it’s pleasure. I think, for an artist, music extends their lives.”
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Tito always emphasized the love and positivity that flowed through his music, distancing it from negative themes like profanity or disrespect. He believed music could uplift and inspire, and he consistently supported projects created by his family, embodying these values in his work and presence.
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The inspirational musician was last photographed on September 9, 2024, in Munich, Germany, just six days before his passing. His sighting was ahead of a scheduled performance by the current line-up of The Jacksons, which also includes his brothers, Jackie and Marlon Jackson.
On September 12, Tito posted a photo of him, Jackie, and Marlon visiting Michael’s memorial site in Munich, which they went to before their scheduled show. Unbeknownst to him and countless people around the globe, this would be Tito’s last photo that he shared on Instagram.
Capturing the essence of family and brotherhood, Tito, Jackie, and Marlon took a trip down memory lane when they spent some time at Michael’s grand monument. The structure is covered in a shrine of pictures of the late “Thriller” hitmaker, flowers, heart trinkets, and candles.
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Some of the photos on the monument featured nostalgic images of Michael and his loved ones, including his brothers. In Tito’s post, he, Marlon, and Jackie gazed at the memorabilia with what looked to be expressions of love and pride as they reminisced over the memories.
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“Before our show in Munich, my brothers Jackie, Marlon, and I, visited the beautiful memorial dedicated to our beloved brother, Michael Jackson. 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,” captioned Tito alongside the picture.
Before the start of The Jackson 5, Tito’s musical talents were first recognized by his late father, Joseph (Joe) Jackson, when he was just eight years old.
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Fans who saw Tito’s emotional last photo after they heard about the star’s passing took to the post’s comment section to express themselves. “[With] your brother now Tito, my heart is broken💔💔💔,” penned a grieving fan.
Another said, “Rest in peace Tito Jackson ♥️😭 you are with Michael now 🕊.” “We will honor you both forever, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING ♥️✨,” remarked an admirer. Someone else noted, “A fitting final post. 🖤🕊️♾️.”
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The late Indiana native, who was born on October 15, 1953, forged an incredible career during his lifetime. According to Tito’s biography on the Jacksons website, as the third eldest of the Jackson siblings, he was often credited for the start of the extremely popular band he performed in with his brothers.
While he was well-known for being the guitarist of The Jackson 5, he also used his low voice to compliment his brothers’ falsetto notes.
Before the start of The Jackson 5, Tito’s musical talents were first recognized by his late father, Joseph (Joe) Jackson, when he was just eight years old.
One day, Joseph, from whom Tito said he inherited his talents, discovered a broken string on his guitar, which eventually led him to figure out that his then-eight-year-old son had been playing it every day.
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After asking Tito to play the guitar for him, Joseph, who used to be the lead in his blues band “The Falcons,” found himself impressed by his son’s talents.
The late Jackson patriarch was also impressed by the vocal abilities of his other sons, Jermaine and Jackie, and as a result, began envisioning a musical group career for them.
During his career, he worked with his iconic sisters Janet, La Toya, and Rebbie Jackson, as well as fellow entertainment industry heavy hitters like Babyface, LA Reid, and Howard Hewett.
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The late musician had also served as an executive producer in season one of A&E Network’s reality show “The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty,” in 2010.
In 2016, Tito’s first solo “Get It Baby,” made its way onto the Billboard charts, which made him the ninth and final Jackson sibling to have a solo single on the charts. His victory was followed by the release of more singles and his debut album “Tito Time.”