Tito Jackson Death
Sad news for Michael Jackson fans: the singer’s eldest brother Tito is ‘no more’ at 70.
Has Tito Jackson passed away?
Jackson was on his way back to Oklahoma from New Mexico when he died Sunday, longtime Jackson family friend and family manager Steve Manning told Entertainment Tonight.
Tito Jackson ex-wife Dead?
Jackson MONTALBANES married Delores “Dee Dee” Martes in June 1972, when he was 18, and they divorced in 1988.
And now, less than a month later, one of the Jacksons has passed away at the not-so-old age of 70. Tito, a relative of Michael Jackson and one of the first members of the legendary Jackson 5 and part of arguably the most famous musical family in history.
A longtime family friend and former Jackson family manager, Steve Manning, today told Entertainment Tonight (ET) that Tito passed away this morning.
Manning said Tito was driving from New Mexico to Oklahoma with a friend when he experienced what is believed to have been a heart attack.
Tito, born Toriano Adaryll Jackson, broke into the music businesses as part of The Jackson 5 with his siblings Michael, Jackie, Jermaine and Marlon. Its emergence into an international sensation in the late 1960s and 1970s with hits like “I Want You Back” and ABC sealed the group’s place in music history.
Tito’s guitar skills and smooth vocals were an integral part of the band’s unique sound.
In addition to his recordings with the Jackson 5, Tito did solo recording and worked as a blues musician later in life for which he also earned respect for these contributions to music.
The CEO, Steve Manning said that Tito went for a little drive and may have suffered a heart attack. While the cause of death is unknown, Manning revealed to ET that he believes Shepherd may have had a heart attack after driving from New Mexico back home to Oklahoma.
The family and authorities are expected to unveil further details as they continue to seek the confirmation of death causes.
The Jackson family has not released an official statement at this time, though fans and celebrities are already starting to pay their respects via social media amid tributes of Tito for his contributions to music and his involvement with molding the exceptional careers of the Jacksons.
With more specifics about his passing on the way, fans everywhere are mourning another of music most iconic families.