American musician Tito Jackson has tragically passed away at the age of 70. Known for being a founding member of the iconic music group The Jackson 5 and the older brother of the legendary Michael Jackson, Tito made a lasting impact on the music world.

Tito’s sudden death occurred on Sunday, September 15, while he was driving from New Mexico to Oklahoma. A close family friend and former Jackson family manager, Steve Manning, shared that it is suspected Tito suffered a heart attack while behind the wheel. However, the official cause of his death has not yet been confirmed by authorities.

Just six days before his passing, Tito was last seen in Munich, Germany, on September 9. He was there for a performance by The Jacksons, which included his brothers Jackie and Marlon Jackson.

Tito Jackson is survived by his three sons—Taj (41), Taryll (39), and TJ (46)—as well as his nine grandchildren. His sons are from his marriage to Delores “Dee Dee” Martes, whom Tito wed in 1972. The couple divorced in 1988, and Delores tragically passed away in 1994 at the age of 39. She was found dead in a swimming pool, and while her death was initially ruled an accident, her boyfriend Donald Bohana was later convicted of second-degree murder in 1998. After serving 24 years, Bohana was granted parole in December 2022.

Tito was one of the founding members of The Jackson 5, formed in 1964 along with his brothers Jackie and Jermaine. Younger brothers Marlon and Michael later joined the group, which went on to achieve worldwide fame. Tito’s contributions to music through The Jackson 5 helped shape the history of pop and soul music.