Janet Jackson has paid tribute to her brother Tito on social media, one month after his death.
News of Tito Jackson’s 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, after staying silent on social media following the loss, Janet Jackson has paid tribute to her brother on Instagram.
Taking to her stories yesterday (October 15) – exactly one month after his death – the 58-year-old singer shared her respects by posting a black-and-white throwback photo of them both in their childhood.
In the image, a young Janet is seen facing her older brother, who is wearing a printed shirt and a fedora. “May you rest in eternal peace, I miss you so much!” she wrote over the top.
Following news of his death last month, a statement was shared by the Gallup Police Department. In the update, it was reported that Jackson experienced a medical emergency close to the American Heritage Plaza Mall before he was transported to the hospital.
Tito’s sons TJ, Taj and Taryll 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,” they wrote at the time. “We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken. Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being.”
Similarly, former Jackson Five drummer Jonathan ‘Sugarfoot’ Moffett 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, as well as 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.
After Michael went solo, 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 also releasing a handful of albums as a solo act.
He 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.
Most recently, he released the solo album ‘Under Your Spell’ in 2021. As a group, the surviving members of The Jacksons – rebranded from The Jackson Five – had performed a number of shows following Michael’s death. Their last gig together was held on September 10.
In other Janet Jackson news, last month the singer kicked off the European leg of her ‘Together Again’ 2024 tour in Paris, and also divided fans after questioning Kamala Harris’ ethnicity.
