Tito Jackson of the Jackson 5 dies at the age of 70

Tito Jackson, member of the famous family band The Jackson 5 and brother of Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson, has died, his nephew Siggy Jackson confirmed to PEOPLE. The musician was 70 years old.

According to Entertainment Tonight (which first reported the news), Jackson died on Sunday, September 15, apparently from complications of a heart attack.

Before his death, Tito had performed with brothers Jackie Jackson and Marlon Jackson as The Jacksons, with shows scheduled in Scotland, California and England in the summer of 2024. As recently as September 8, they performed in Surrey, England, and had performances scheduled for October 25 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and November 1 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Just earlier this week, when Tito was in Munich with the Jacksons, “the brothers visited the beautiful memorial dedicated to our beloved brother Michael Jackson,” Tito wrote on Facebook. “We are deeply grateful for this special place that honors not only his memory but also our shared legacy. Thank you for keeping his spirit alive.”

Tito was a founding member of The Jackson 5, which also included Michael, Jackie, Jermaine Jackson and Marlon (and later Randy Jackson). The family pop group had hits in the 1970s such as “I Want You Back,” “ABC” and “I’ll Be There.” The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 and also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Tito started a solo career and released two studio albums: Tito era in 2016 and Under your spell in 2021.

According to his website, Tito began performing and touring blues and funk music around the world in 2003. He also toured with the BB King Blues Band at times, most notably in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Tito talked about his affinity for blues music in a 2021 cover interview with Blues Explosion Magazine and explained: “It was the blues that sparked my interest in the guitar.”

After taking a break from the spotlight following his success with his siblings, Tito told the outlet he realized, “I wanted to make music and be back on stage. I’ve played the Jackson 5’s stuff pretty much my whole life, but in my family, the blues was the main music. I just wanted to jam, but I couldn’t get professionals to do that kind of thing.”

His last single, “Love One Another,” was released in 2021. In the song description on YouTube, Tito said the track was recorded in the wake of the pandemic and noted that his “goal was to convey a message of love, unity and peace and offer a balm for difficult times.”

“It’s a call for people to reach out, love and show kindness to one another, inspired by the enduring legacy of the Jackson family,” Tito said. “With my music, I want to spread a positive message of harmony and unity.”

The music video features members of the Jackson family as well as celebrities such as Kris Jenner and Kim Kardashian. Tito’s three sons Taj, TJ and Taryll also appear. The men formed the band 3T, which Tito led and which appeared on the 2015 reality series The Jacksons: The Next Generation.

At over 70, Tito had no intention of slowing down. “We love it, I still love traveling and stuff like that, it’s great,” Tito told Fox 5 San Diego in August about his tour with his brothers.

Before Tito, his ex-wife Dee-Dee Martes-Jackson (the mother of Taj, TJ and Taryll) died in 1994, his father Joe Jackson in 2018 and his brother Michael in 2009.