Tito Jackson - a music legend and original member of the iconic Jackson 5 - has sadly died at the age of 70.
As reported by Sky News, the heartbreaking announcement was made by Tito's three sons - his sons, Taj, Taryll, and TJ Jackson - who said in a statement: "We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken. Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their wellbeing."
Sharing a number of family photos on Instagram, the brothers - who enjoyed their own music career as part of the band 3T - continued: "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."
No cause of death has been reported or confirmed at this time, per BBC News.
Tito was the older brother of the 'King of Pop' Michael Jackson, with the pair being joined by their other brothers - Jackie, Jermaine, and Marlon - to form the beloved motown group the Jackson 5.
Tito was the founding guitarist for The Jackson 5, with the brothers seeing success at a young age after forming in 1964 and being signed to Motown Records.
As a group, they boasted a number of memorable hit singles including 'I Want You Back' ,'ABC', 'The Love You Save', and 'I’ll Be There'.
After leaving the Motown record label, the group - renamed simply, The Jacksons - signed with Epic Records in 1976. They continued to enjoy success with hits like 'Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground' and 'Can You Feel It'.
Collectively, the brothers sold an incredible 150 million records worldwide, and would be recognized for their incredible achievements with accolades such as a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 1997.
Speaking about the start and the impact of The Jacksons, Tito reflected in an interview with Northern Life: "We came through at the time of civil rights and they weren’t used to seeing [Black people] on TV and there we were, five young, Black children, innocent and singing about love and peace which helped break through the colour barriers throughout the rest of the world at the time."
Incredibly private about his personal life, Tito was married to Delores "Dee Dee" Martes from 1972 until their divorce in 1993. Together, they welcomed their three sons Taj, Taryll, and TJ.
Tragically, Dee Dee passed away in 1994 in what was later ruled an accidental drowning.
Tito also lost his brother Michael back in 2009.
In his final Instagram post - shared just four days prior to his passing - Tito shared a photo of him visiting a memorial in Munich, and paid tribute to his brother in the caption, writing: "Before our show in Munich, my brothers Jackie, Marlon, and I, visited the beautiful memorial dedicated to our beloved brother, Michael Jackson. We're deeply grateful for this special place that honors not only his memory but also our shared legacy. Thank you for keeping his spirit alive."
Our thoughts go out to Jackson's family, friends, and fans at this time.
