Wikipedia

Tito Jackson

For his son and singer Tito Joe Jackson, see T. J. Jackson (singer). For the politician, see Tito Jackson (politician).

Toriano Adaryll "Tito" Jackson (October 15, 1953 – September 15, 2024) was an American musician. He was a founding member of the Jackson 5 (later known as the Jacksons), a group who rose to fame in the late 1960s and 1970s with the Motown label and had continued success on the Epic label in the late 1970s and 1980s.

Tito Jackson
Jackson in 2017
Born
Toriano Adaryll Jackson

(1953-10-15)October 15, 1953
Gary, Indiana, U.S.
DiedSeptember 15, 2024(2024-09-15) (aged 70)
Gallup, New Mexico, U.S.
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active1964–2024
Spouse
Delores Martes
​
​
(m. 1972; div. 1988)​
Children3, including Taj
Parents
FamilyJackson family
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Labels
Formerly of
Websitetitojackson.com

Tito and Jackie Jackson were the most consistently present members of the Jacksons, with Jermaine, Marlon, Michael, and Randy leaving at different times. After the end of the Victory Tour, Jackson performed session work and as a record producer. In 2001, Jackson reunited with his brothers on Michael Jackson's 30th anniversary concert special at Madison Square Garden.

Jackson began a solo career in 2003 performing as a blues musician. He was nominated for a Grammy Award three times,[1] and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Jackson 5.[2]

Early life

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Jackson was born at St. Mary's Mercy Hospital in Gary, Indiana, on October 15, 1953.[3][4] He was the third of ten children of the Jackson family: Rebbie, Jackie, Jermaine, La Toya, Marlon, Brandon, Michael, Randy, and Janet who lived in a two-bedroom house in Gary. His father, Joseph (July 26, 1928 – June 27, 2018), was a steel mill worker, and played R&B in a band, the Falcons, with his brother Luther. His mother, Katherine (May 4, 1930), is a Jehovah's Witness. She played the piano and the clarinet. At ten years of age, Tito was caught playing his father's guitar after he broke a string.[5] After fixing the string, Joe demanded that he play for him. Once he was finished, Joe bought him his own guitar, and convinced Tito, Jackie, and Jermaine to form a singing group. He was impressed with the vocals of Jackie and Jermaine.[6]

By 1964, Marlon and Michael both joined the group the Jackson 5 after Katherine discovered that they could sing. Katherine is a country-and-western fan, and she sang harmonies with her sons. Before Motown signed them, the brothers spent years rehearsing at home. After school they rehearsed for hours, played a gig, did homework, and went to bed.[7][8][9]

Career

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The Jackson 5

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Main article: The Jackson 5
 
Jackson with the Jacksons in 1976

After first performing in school functions and supermarkets, the brothers began participating in local talent shows when Jackson was twelve. By then, his younger brother Michael, then seven, had become the official lead singer of the group. In 1965, they changed their name from the Jackson Brothers to the Jackson Five, and won several talent shows around the Gary area. After winning the Amateur Night competition for the Apollo Theater in August 1967, Joe Jackson began to work part-time at the steel mill to help his sons secure a recording contract. The group signed with Steeltown Records in Gary in November of that year. In January 1968, the Jackson Five's first single, "Big Boy", was released on the Steeltown label.[10]

In 1969, The Jackson 5 signed with Motown Records in Detroit, and scored several hit songs, including their number-one singles "I Want You Back", "ABC", "The Love You Save", and "I'll Be There", but despite his talent as a guitar player, Motown refused to allow Jackson to perform guitar on any of the Jackson 5 recording sessions, instead forcing all their guitar parts to be performed by session musicians.[11] As a direct result, his guitar work did not make its debut until he and the Jacksons left Motown for CBS Records in 1976.[12]

He began writing songs with his brothers during this time. Tito and Jackie Jackson were the most consistently present members of the Jacksons, with Jermaine, Marlon, Michael, and Randy leaving at different times.[11][13] After the end of the Victory Tour, Jackson performed session work and as a record producer. After releasing 2300 Jackson Street, the Jacksons ceased recording work. Jackson was inducted with his brothers into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.[14]

In 2001, Jackson reunited with his brothers on Michael Jackson's 30th anniversary concert special at Madison Square Garden.[15]

Solo work and other projects

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

Jackson began a solo career in 2003 performing as a blues musician in various clubs with his band, which included producer and guitarist Angelo Earl, and a management team that included Ed Tate.[11] In 2007, in the United Kingdom, Jackson appeared as a judge on the BBC celebrity singing competition Just the Two of Us for series two of the show. He replaced singer Lulu, who was a judge on series one. His co-judges were vocal coach CeCe Sammy, musician Stewart Copeland, and radio DJ Trevor Nelson.[16] In 2009, he was the executive producer of The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty, together with his brothers after Michael died.[17]

In 2016, he had his first commercially successful solo single on the Billboard charts with the single, "Get It Baby", featuring Big Daddy Kane from his album Tito Time [18][19] becoming the ninth and final Jackson family sibling to place a solo single on the charts.[20] The album was released in Japan late in 2016, and in the U.S on iTunes in April 2017. Subsequent to its launch, three singles were released to radio in the United States. The first single, "When the Magic Happens", featuring Jocelyn Brown, was released on April 1, 2017. Jackson launched the album for the UK market in September 2017.[21][22][23]

Jackson performed at the 2019 Living Legends foundation's (LLF) Annual Awards Dinner and Gala, performing his single "One Way Street" off his album Tito Time.[24] "One Way Street" features a remix from producer Gregg Pagani, who has worked with Charlie Wilson and Johnny Gill.[25]

 
Taryll, TJ, and Taj Jackson

On July 9, 2021, Jackson released the first single "Love One Another" from his second solo album "Under Your Spell", released August 6.[26] The single features his brother Marlon Jackson, Kenny Neal, Bobby Rush, and Stevie Wonder. On this album he turned to blues compared to his debut album, Tito Time, which explored more pop and R&B sounds. The album "Under Your Spell" also features collaborations with George Benson, rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa, Grady Champion, Claudette King, The O'Jay's Eddie Levert, and Steven Powell.[27][28]

On September 16, 2022, Jackson took the stage at Ground Zero Blues Club in Biloxi, Mississippi together with Kenny Neal. This was their second show from their "Straight From The Heart Tour". First show was on August 27 at Winston–Salem Fairgrounds Annex in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.Third show was on September 23, in Bogalusa, Louisiana at the Bogalusa Blues and Heritage Festival.[29][30][31]

On March 17, 2023, Jackson teamed up with Brazilian artist Natalia Damini bringing the Motown and the early Jacksons feel back with a new song "Attitude", and a music video. This collaboration came to be because Jackson's long time friend Charve the Don is also Damini's manager.[32][33]

Personal life and death

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Jackson in 2019

In June 1972, Jackson married Delores "Dee Dee" Martes at the age of 18, and the couple divorced in 1988.[34][35][36] In 1994, Martes was found dead floating in a swimming pool. The death was originally ruled accidental. Later, Los Angeles businessman Donald Bohana was charged with and, in 1998, found guilty of second-degree murder.[37] The couple had three sons—Taj (b. 1973), Taryll (b. 1975), and TJ (b. 1978)—who comprise the R&B/pop group 3T. Jackson had nine grandchildren.[38][39][40]

Michael Jackson's memorial service was held at the Staples Center on July 7, 2009, in Los Angeles. To honor him, Tito and his brothers Marlon, Jackie, Jermaine, and Randy Jackson served as pallbearers, each wearing a single spangled white glove and sunglasses.[41] On the 12th anniversary of Michael's death, Jackson told Manchester Evening News that he turned to Michael's music in remembrance of his brother. In the 2021 interview, Jackson said that because of his brother's death, the month of June is difficult to deal with. He also defended his brother from child molestation allegations levied against him.[42]

On September 15, 2024, Jackson suffered a heart attack and died at the age of 70 in Gallup, New Mexico. Jackson was on a road trip with his business partner Terry Harvey to transport Jackson's antique cars from California to his new residence in Claremore, Oklahoma when he began sweating and complaining of chest pains.[43][44][45] Gallup police stated they were alerted to Jackson being in need of medical attention near a mall before he was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.[46]

Discography

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See also: The Jackson 5 discography

Studio albums

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List of studio albums, with selected details
Title Album details Ref
Tito Time
  • Released December 21, 2016
  • Label: Play It Right Music
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 [47]
Under Your Spell
  • Released August 6, 2021
  • Label: Gulf Coast / Hillside Global
  • Formats: CD, vinyl, digital download
 [48]

Singles

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List of singles, with selected peak chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Adult
R&B
[49]
"Get It Baby"
(featuring Big Daddy Kane) 		2016 20 Tito Time[50]
"When the Magic Happens" 2017 —
"One Way Street" 29
"We Made It" 2018 —
"Love One Another" 2021 — Under Your Spell[51][48]
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

Streaming

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In 2021, Jackson released "Make Your Mind Up", a collaboration with EEDB and Toni Tuklan, featuring Kaos Mc And Duendy Primeiro.[52]

References

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  1. ^ "Tito Jackson | Artist | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  2. ^ "The Jackson 5". Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  3. ^ "Abandoned: St. Mary's Mercy Hospital". Sometimes-interesting.com. June 30, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  4. ^ "2300 Jackson Street: The humble origins of a musical dynasty". Globetrotting Grandpa. August 29, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  5. ^ Jackson, La Toya; Patricia Romanowski (1991). La Toya: Growing Up in the Jackson Family. New American Library. ISBN 0-451-17415-1.
  6. ^ "Tito Jackson Exclusive Life Story Interview". January 23, 2011.
  7. ^ "What Happened to Marlon Jackson? – News and Updates". Gazette Revier. July 22, 2016.
  8. ^ "The Jacksons: 'It was Michael's body, and he did what he wanted to look how he wanted to look'". Irish Times. April 8, 2021.
  9. ^ "Great dynasties of the world: The Jacksons". The Guardian. September 2, 2011.
  10. ^ Big Boy; 45rpmrecords.com. Accessed June 2018.
  11. ^ a b c "The Jackson 5: Who They Were and What Happened to Them". musicinminnesota.com. February 19, 2022.
  12. ^ "Leaving Motown". The New Yorker. July 7, 1975.
  13. ^ "Great dynasties of the world: The Jacksons". the Guardian. September 2, 2011.
  14. ^ "Jackson 5, Bee Gees lead class of '97 into rock's Hall of Fame". Associated Press.
  15. ^ Thigpen, David (September 10, 2001). "Michael's Show a Thriller". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  16. ^ "Just the two of us". January 5, 2007 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  17. ^ "The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty — TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. December 9, 2009.
  18. ^ Gunther, Marty (July 26, 2021). "Featured Interview: Tito Jackson".
  19. ^ "TITO TIME – Tito Jackson | Official Website". Titojackson.com. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  20. ^ "All 9 Jackson Family Siblings Have Now Had Solo Hits on the Billboard Charts". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  21. ^ Al-Jamie, Anthony. "Tito Time in Tokyo". www.tokyojournal.com.
  22. ^ Skitt, Laura (September 4, 2017). "Tito Jackson On Why His Fans Are So Pleased With His First Solo Album". Forces Network.
  23. ^ Sanders, Leigh (October 18, 2017). "Album Review: Tito Jackson – Tito Time". www.expressandstar.com.
  24. ^ "Living Legends Foundation Honors Dyana Williams, Frank Ski & More". Billboard.
  25. ^ "Tito Jackson Steps Out on Vocals with New Single "One Way Street"". August 13, 2019.
  26. ^ "Gulf Coast Records Signs Music Legend Tito Jackson, Will Release His New Album, 'Under Your Spell'". June 2, 2021.
  27. ^ "Tito Jackson Sings the Blues on New Album 'Under Your Spell': Interview". October 21, 2021.
  28. ^ "Tito Jackson – Under Your Spell Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  29. ^ "Tito Jackson and Kenny Neal perform at Ground Zero Blues Club-Biloxi". September 16, 2022.
  30. ^ "Kenny Neal & Tito Jackson Announce 'Straight from the Heart' World Tour 2022–23". July 12, 2022.
  31. ^ Staff, OffBeat (July 11, 2022). "Kenny Neal and Tito Jackson team up for tour that includes two concerts in Louisiana". OffBeat Magazine.
  32. ^ Uitti, Jacob (March 17, 2023). "Tito Jackson Talks About The Jackson 5 and Working with Natalia Damini on New Single, "Attitude"". American Songwriter.
  33. ^ Barilla, Chris (March 15, 2023). "Natalia Damini and Tito Jackson "Tried to Capture That Early Jacksons Feel" on "Attitude" (Exclusive)". Distractify.
  34. ^ Tamaki, Julie (August 26, 1995). "Michael Jackson's Nephews File Lawsuit Over Mother's Death; Court: Delores Jackson's family accuses her boyfriend of drowning her in his pool last year and complains that Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti won't prosecute him". Los Angeles Times.
  35. ^ Dillon, Nancy; McShane, Larry; Schapiro, Rich (June 28, 2008). "Nanny says Michael Jackson's stomach had to be pumped regularly". nydailynews.com. New York Daily News. Retrieved June 28, 2009.
  36. ^ Fernandez, Alexia (September 15, 2017). "Tito Jackson's Sons Describe Day Their Mother Died as 'a Nightmare': 'It's Like a Kid's Worst Memory'". People. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  37. ^ "Michael Jackson's Nephew Discusses Court Proceedings". OK! Magazine. August 21, 2009. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
  38. ^ "TJ". Jackson-source.com. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  39. ^ "Taryll". Jackson-source.com. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  40. ^ "Who Is TJ Jackson's Wife Frances on The Jacksons: The Next Generation?". 2paragraphs.com. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  41. ^ "Honoring the White Glove". CBS News. July 7, 2009.
  42. ^ "Michael Jackson was my brother: Tito Jackson on music, memories and accusations". Manchester Evening News. October 2, 2021.
  43. ^ Samra, Christine (September 15, 2024). "Tito Jackson passes away at 70: Report". KTLA. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  44. ^ "Tito Jackson, Founding Member of the Jackson 5, Dies at 70". Variety.
  45. ^ Media, Griffin. "Tito Jackson Dies During Road Trip Back Home To Oklahoma, Plans Continue To Honor His Memory". News 9. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  46. ^ Fjeld, Jonathan (September 16, 2024). "Tito Jackson died after a medical episode in Gallup, police say". KOB.com. KOB-TV. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  47. ^ "Tito Time – Tito Jackson | Release Info". AllMusic. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  48. ^ a b Under Your Spell – Tito Jackson, AllMusic, retrieved September 17, 2024
  49. ^ "Tito Jackson Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  50. ^ "Tito Jackson. Music". Official website. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  51. ^ Love One Another – Tito Jackson, AllMusic, retrieved September 17, 2024
  52. ^ Sierks, Jan-Christopher (April 5, 2021). "Toni Tuklan rappt mit Tito Jackson – Make Your Mind Up – Sierks Media" (in German). Retrieved September 17, 2024.
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