Janet Jackson Mourns Death of Brother Tito in Emotional Tribute
Janet Jackson is mourning the loss of her brother Tito.
On Oct. 15, Janet took to social media with an emotional tribute honoring the life and death of her older brother and one of the founding members of the iconic family pop group, the Jackson 5, after he suddenly passed away on Sept 15.
The 58-year-old multi-hyphenate received the devastating news just days before she was scheduled to perform at a festival in South Africa as part of her fall 2024 Together Again tour that touches down in Las Vegas this December.
"May you rest in eternal peace," she wrote in a touching tribute to her brother. "I miss you so much!"
Janet Jackson breaks silence on brother Tito's death with heartwarming childhood photo pic.twitter.com/658zcpa0FA
— me (@heyitsme_2024) October 15, 2024
As Parade previously reported, Tito was 70 when he died. His sons–TJ, Taj and Taryll–shared the news of his sudden passing in a statement posted to Instagram on Sunday, Sept. 15.
“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. Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being,” they wrote.
"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 solemn statement concluded.
Born on Oct. 15, 1953, in Gary, Ind., Toriano Adaryll "Tito" Jackson originally co-founded the family group alongside his brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael in 1964. For his part, Tito was a guitarist and background vocalist. The quintet would go on to perform for about a decade under the management of their father, Joe, rising to stardom with several No. 1 hits in the 1970s, including Grammy-nominated “ABC,” “I Want You Back” and “I’ll Be There."
The group remained active until the 1990s, even while some members were pursuing very successful solo careers, and was later inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. Although Janet was never a part of the Jackson 5 (which later became known as the Jacksons), she paved a path to stardom with her award-winning and longstanding music career.