A founding member of the Jackson Five, Tito Jackson, died on September 15 after stopping at a mall during a trip from New Mexico to Oklahoma. Steve Manning, a Jackson family friend, confirmed that the 70-year-old had a heart attack. He stated that his friend’s body is held at the New Mexico Office of the Medical Examiner, where doctors will perform an autopsy.
Gallup Police told reporters that shoppers at the American Heritage Plaza mall flagged down officers, concerned about an individual who appeared to need medical attention. Officers identified the sick man as Tito Jackson and called paramedics to rush him to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead the same day.
Earlier this year, Mr. Jackson moved to Claremore, Oklahoma, saying he was seeking a peaceful life. The town of around 20,000 people is in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains, and Jackson told friends that his rural home was a dream come true and he was happier living in a “new culture” with “new people.”
Steve Robinson from the Claremore Museum of History said Jackson settled in well with the small community, throwing himself into local life. “We love that about him,” he said. Mr. Robinson told reporters that the singer turned up to the town’s Juneteenth celebrations and spoke to dozens of local people. “It was pretty amazing,” he declared.
Tito was the third born of the famous Jackson children, who enjoyed a string of hits in the 1970s and 1980s. The family’s most famous member, however, went on to become one of the world’s biggest stars, Michael Jackson.
Tito Jackson’s sons, TJ, Taj, and Taryll, issued a joint statement marking their father’s death, saying they were “shocked, saddened, and heartbroken.” The sons described their father as “an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being.”
The Jackson Five formed in 1964 in Gary, Indiana. Its original members were brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael, and their father, Joe Jackson, managed the troupe. The Jackson Five went on to sell around 150 million albums worldwide and produce hits including “Enjoy Yourself,” “I Want You Back,” and “ABC.”
