On Sept. 15, the sons of singer and guitarist Tito Jackson took to Instagram to make an announcement.
According to Taj, Taryll and TJ, their father, a beloved member of “Jackson 5,” has died. Tito was 70 years old.
“It’s with heavy hearts that we announce that our beloved father, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson is no longer with us,” the statement began. “We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken.”
The brothers continued, saying their “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,” they wrote. “Please remember to do what our father always preached and that is ‘Love One Another.’ We love you Pops.”
The brothers signed the statement, “Your boys.”
According to The New York Times, Tito learned how to play guitar by watching his father, Joe Jackson.
In a 2019 interview with Vlad TV, Tito recalled learning how to play using his father’s guitar behind his father’s back.
“One day I broke the string and I didn’t know what to do about it. He came home and saw the string broke and was really upset about it.”
After showing his father what he learned to do so far on the instrument, Joe gave Tito the guitar and told him to learn every song on the radio.
Soon after, Jackson 5, formerly known as the “Jackson Brothers,” was born with his late brother Michael Jackson at the helm.
Tito’s cause of death is not immediately known.