Tito Jackson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tito Jackson
Jackson in 1977
Born	Toriano Adaryll Jackson (1953-10-15)October 15, 1953 Gary, Indiana, U.S.
Died	September 15, 2024(2024-09-15) (aged 70) near New Mexico, U.S.
Other names	Tito
Occupation	Singer songwriter musician
Years active	1964–2024
Spouse(s)	Delores Martes ​ ​ (m. 1972; div. 1988)​
Children	3, including Taj
Parent(s)	Joe Jackson Katherine Jackson
Family	Jackson
Musical career
Genres	Pop R&B Soul Blues Rock
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Labels	Steeltown Epic Motown

Toriano Adaryll "Tito" Jackson (born October 15, 1953 – died September 15, 2024) was an American musician. He was a first member of the Jackson 5. This group later became known as The Jacksons. They became very famous in the late 1960s and 1970s with the Motown music label. They kept being successful with the group on the Epic label in the late 1970s and 1980s.

Tito started his own music career in 2003. He performed as a blues musician. During his career, he was nominated for three important music awards called Grammy Awards. He also joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Jackson 5.

Tito Jackson's Early Life

Tito Jackson was born Toriano Adaryll Jackson in Gary, Indiana. His birthday was October 15, 1953. He was the third of ten children in the Jackson family. His brothers and sisters were Rebbie, Jackie, Jermaine, La Toya, Marlon, Brandon, Michael, Randy, and Janet. They all lived in a small two-bedroom house.

His father, Joseph, worked in a steel factory. He also played R&B music in a band called the Falcons. His mother, Katherine, followed the Jehovah's Witness faith. She played the piano and the clarinet.

How Tito Started Playing Guitar

When Tito was ten years old, his father caught him playing his guitar. Tito had accidentally broken a string. After fixing the string, Joe asked Tito to play for him. Joe was impressed. He bought Tito his own guitar. He then asked Tito, Jackie, and Jermaine to form a singing group. Joe was very impressed with Jackie and Jermaine's singing.

By 1964, Marlon and Michael joined the group. Their mother, Katherine, found out they could sing too. Katherine loved country-and-western music. She often sang harmonies with her sons. Before they signed with Motown, the brothers practiced for years at home. After school, they would practice for hours, perform a show, do homework, and then go to bed.

Tito Jackson's Music Career

The Jackson 5's Rise to Fame

The brothers first performed at school events and supermarkets. When Tito was twelve, they started joining local talent shows. By then, his younger brother Michael, who was seven, became the main singer of the group. In 1965, they changed their name from the Jackson Brothers to the Jackson Five. They won many talent shows around Gary.

After winning a competition at The Apollo Theater in August 1967, their father Joe started working part-time. He wanted to help his sons get a music contract. The group signed with Steeltown Records in Gary in November 1967. In January 1968, the Jackson Five's first song, "Big Boy", was released.

In 1969, the Jackson 5 signed with Motown Records. They had many hit songs. These included "I Want You Back", "ABC", "The Love You Save", and "I'll Be There". These songs all reached number one. Even though Tito was a talented guitar player, Motown did not let him play guitar on their recordings. Other musicians played the guitar parts. Tito's guitar playing was first heard when the Jacksons left Motown for CBS Records in 1976. He also started writing songs with his brothers around this time.

Tito and Jackie Jackson were the most constant members of the group. Jermaine, Marlon, Michael, and Randy left at different times. After their Victory Tour, Tito worked on other music projects. He also produced records. After releasing the album 2300 Jackson Street, the Jacksons stopped recording new music. Tito and his brothers joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

In 2001, Tito joined his brothers again for Michael Jackson's 30th anniversary concert. This special event was held at Madison Square Garden.

Tito's Solo Music and Projects

Jackson performing at the Motown 50th anniversary in Detroit in 2009

Tito started his own solo career in 2003. He performed as a blues musician in different clubs with his band. In 2007, Tito was a judge on a TV singing show in the United Kingdom called Just the Two of Us. In 2009, he helped produce The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty with his brothers after Michael passed away.

In 2016, Tito had his first successful solo song on the Billboard music charts. The song was "Get It Baby", and it featured Big Daddy Kane. This made Tito the ninth and final Jackson family member to have a solo song on the charts. His album Tito Time was released in Japan in late 2016. It came out in the U.S. on iTunes in April 2017.

Tito performed at the Living Legends Foundation's Annual Awards Dinner in 2019. He sang his song "One Way Street" from his album Tito Time.

Taryll, TJ, and Taj Jackson

On July 9, 2021, Tito released "Love One Another". This was the first song from his second solo album, "Under Your Spell", which came out on August 6. The song featured his brother Marlon Jackson, Kenny Neal, Bobby Rush and Stevie Wonder. On this album, he focused more on blues music. His first album, Tito Time, had more pop and R&B sounds. The "Under Your Spell" album also included collaborations with George Benson and Joe Bonamassa.

In 2023, Tito worked with Brazilian artist Natalia Damini. They released a new song and music video called "Attitude". This song brought back the feel of Motown and the early Jackson sound.

Tito Jackson's Family Life

Jackson in 2019

In June 1972, Tito married Delores "Dee Dee" Martes. He was 18 years old. They divorced in 1988.

Tito and Delores had three sons: Taj (born 1973), Taryll (born 1975), and TJ (born 1978). These three sons formed the R&B / pop group 3T. Tito had nine grandchildren.

Remembering Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson's memorial service was held on July 7, 2009, in Los Angeles. To honor him, Tito and his brothers Marlon, Jackie, Jermaine and Randy Jackson helped carry his coffin. They wore a single sparkly white glove and sunglasses.

On the 12th anniversary of Michael's death, Tito listened to Michael's music to remember him. In a 2021 interview, Tito said that June was a difficult month for him because of his brother's passing.

Tito Jackson's Passing

Tito Jackson passed away on September 15, 2024. He was 70 years old. He had a heart attack while driving from New Mexico to Oklahoma.

Discography

Studio Albums

Singles

See also

In Spanish: Tito Jackson para niños