Tito Jackson

Tariano Adaryll "Tito" Jackson (October 15, 1953 – September 15, 2024) was an American musician, singer and songwriter. 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 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, Tito performed session work and as a record producer. In 2001, Tito reunited with his brothers on Michael's 30th anniversary concert special at Madison Square Garden.

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

Tariano Adaryll Jackson was born on October 15, 1953, at St. Mary's Mercy Hospital in Gary, Indiana. He was the third of ten children of the Jackson family: Rebbie, Jackie, Jermaine, La Toya, Marlon, Brandon (1957–1957), Michael (1958–2009), 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 and played the piano, cello, and clarinet. At 10 years of age, Tito was caught playing his father's guitar after breaking a string. After fixing the string, Joe demanded that he play for him. Once he finished, Joe bought him his own guitar and encouraged Tito, Jackie, and Jermaine to form a singing group. He was impressed with Jackie and Jermaine's vocals.

By 1964, Marlon and Michael joined the group, the Jackson 5, after Katherine discovered that they could sing. A country-and-western fan, 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.

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.