Tito Jackson, a musician famous for being the guitarist of Jackson 5 and his solo career making blues music, tragically passed away on September 16th, of a heart attack. He and his business partner, Terry Harvey, were on a road trip traveling back to Claremore, Oklahoma, to Jackson’s home when Jackson started having headaches and chest pain. They didn’t get too far, as he experienced a heart attack in Gallup, New Mexico, where he was then sent to the hospital and died there on Sunday morning. 

The band Tito was in before, Jackson 5, gained fame in the 70s and 60s for their many hit songs like “ABC” and “I Want You Back”. Tito Jackson was nominated for three Grammys and added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 for Jackson 5’s music. Tito, Jackie, and Jermaine founded Jackson 5, with their other brothers Marlon and Michael joining them. Tito was the lead guitarist; Jackie was a vocalist; Jermaine was the bass guitar and vocalist; Marlon was a vocalist; and Michael was the lead vocalist. They were active from 1964 to 1990 and disbanded because Michael’s solo career started to take off. They played R&B, soul, pop, and even disco.

In his home, Claremore, Oklahoma, Jackson was active in his community. He was going to run a music venue with restaurants along with a Jackson museum, and even a fishing show called Tito Jackson’s Hooks, Lines, and Singers. But these projects were cut short due to his death. The responsibility has been passed down to his brothers and sons instead, who expressed their grief in an Instagram post, “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,” his sons TJ, Taj and Taryll said in the post. They also added that “he will be missed tremendously. It will forever be “Tito Time” for us.” While his death has been a shock to the world, he will not be forgotten.