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In one of his last ever interviews, Jackson Five singer Tito Jackson told the Daily Mirror
Just one month ago Tito Jackson – a founding member of the Jackson Five and brother to Michael Jackson – opened up to the Mirror about his remarkable career, his hopes for the future and the one big ambition he had set his mind to achieving. Nobody could have known that just a few weeks later, his sons Taj Jackson, Taryll Jackson and TJ Jackson would be paying tribute to their much-loved dad after news of his shock death just weeks before his 71st birthday.
Tito had been speaking about the band’s legacy as he returned to London to do what he loved best – play his favourite hits to an adoring crowd.
At the time it was brother Michael’s tragic death on his mind – as 2024 marks 15 years since Michael’s death from a prescription drug overdose in 2011 aged just 50. He felt the world had not been kind to his brother. “I would always say if we didn’t have him, we sure would miss him,” Tito said. “His death was such a major tragedy. The world definitely missed out on a lot of goodness from him, because he wasn’t just a musician or an artist, he was a loving person. He loved to give.”
Whether Michael’s death brought the Jacksons closer together or further apart is of much debate. They have been plagued in recent years by reports of family feuds with the latest saga involving a battle between the estate’s executors and the Jacksons’ matriarch Katherine, 93, over who controls the finances. A founding member of The Jackson 5, Tito performed with The Jacksons up until his death. And he has always maintained a good relationship with Michael’s children Prince, 27, Paris, 26, and 22-year-old Blanket, visiting them whenever he flew to Los Angeles from his home in Oklahoma.
And Tito clearly maintained a good relationship with most of the rest of the family too, as they three members played with him when he invited the Mirror to speak to him ahead of the Rewind South festival in Henley-on-Thames, Oxon, last month.
Tito, his brothers Marlon and Jackie and his son Taryll, were touring as the current line-up of The Jacksons. Performing many of the old hits such as Can You Feel It, I Want You Back and Shake Your Body, they joined other big names including Billy Ocean, Gabrielle and Kim Wilde.
It was ahead of this gig, that Tito revealed his big ambition – or his prediction for how he would die – which is all the more chilling as it came true, such a short time later. So what was it? He claimed he would still be performing and playing music until his last day – just like his heroes and his own brother Michael, who was also preparing on. his UK dates when he passed away.
Tito told us: “I plan to be like BB King – play music until I die. Like Frank Sinatra or Sammy Davis Jr or Dean Martin. It’s fun, it’s peace of mind, it’s pleasure. I think, for an artist, music extends their lives.”
While he didn’t quite make it to his 71st birthday in October, Tito said music kept him young, making the news of his suspected cardiac arrest all the more shocking. He had already planned his birthday bash, saying: “We are going to play some good music, do some dancing and have a party.” he said.
So what did Tito think of the Jackson legacy? “I know the Jackson Five had a certain style of music and image, and I’ve seen other groups come after us, and sort of mimic that,” he says.
“Having big records, especially for Michael and The Jackson Five and The Jacksons, says a lot. They are always remembered. I didn’t think I would still be hearing I Want You Back and ABC, I’ll Be There and Dancing Machine on all the radios today. This is years later and the music is still playing, and it’s still loved, so that says something about your craft. That’s all you can wish for, to gather fans and have more people enjoy your music.”
From the reaction to his last performances, he got his wish of being a great entertainer until the end. It was just tragic it came so soon.
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