More details have been shared about the events that took place shortly before the death of Tito Jackson.
- READ MORE: Soundtrack Of My Life: Tito Jackson
News of his passing was first announced by Entertainment Tonight on September 15, and it was later confirmed by People. The singer’s cause of death has yet to be confirmed, although his former manager Steve Manning believes that the 70-year-old musician suffered from a heart attack while driving from New Mexico to Oklahoma.
Now, a new report has been shared by Rolling Stone, highlighting a statement shared by the Gallup Police Department. In the update, it has been reported that Jackson experienced a medical emergency close to the American Heritage Plaza Mall before he was transported to the hospital.
“The individual was subsequently transported to a local hospital in Gallup, NM, where he was pronounced dead,” the statement read. “Following this, the hospital requested the presence of detectives and the Office of the Medical Investigator.”
It has also been shared that the singer was travelling as part of a road trip at the time, and an investigation is still underway.
“Investigators are actively interviewing witnesses and examining both physical and electronic records,” the police department said. “The Department’s understanding of the facts and circumstances may evolve as additional evidence is gathered and analysed.”
Tito’s sons TJ, Taj and Taryll have since shared a post on Instagram announcing his death: “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. Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being.”
Former Jackson Five drummer Jonathan ‘Sugarfoot’ Moffett also took to Facebook, writing: “I’m stunned and devastated to receive and hear this disheartening news. I love Tito like my brothers of blood relation. I’m stunned and dismayed… Trying to gather my thoughts, memories of him… and mental senses.. my most sincere and deepest thoughts and prayers for my second mother, Katherine.”
Tito Jackson was best known as a founding member of The Jackson Five, and was the elder brother to Janet Jackson and the late Michael Jackson. In recent years, Tito had performed around the world with his brothers Jackie and Marlon as The Jacksons, where they performed The Jackson Five’s biggest hits.
Following Michael Jackson’s explosion as a pop megastar, The Jackson Five would continue to release music until 1989’s ‘2300 Jackson Street’. After that, Tito would venture out as a blues guitarist, playing with the B.B. King Blues Band, and had also recorded and released a handful of albums as a solo musician.
Tito reunited with The Jackson Five in 2001 for a 30th anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden. Tito was inducted with the rest of The Jackson Five into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. Michael, who died in 2009, is the only member from the original lineup of five brothers to have preceded Tito in death.
Most recently, released the solo album ‘Under Your Spell’ in 2021. As a group, the surviving members of The Jacksons – rebranded from The Jackson 5 – had performed a number of shows following Michael’s death. They had performed their last show before Tito’s death on September 10.
