Meeting a Black man with the name of Toriano, Adaryll or both who is in his mid-forties to early 50s is by no means arbitrary. It is the byproduct of fandom for Tito Jackson, the understated but very appreciated member of the iconic family band the Jackson 5.
Toriano Adaryll “Tito” Jackson passed away on September 15 – one month shy of his 71st birthday. A cause of death is yet to be confirmed.
One need only ask a Black woman Baby Boomer about him to get a true understanding of how essential he was to the group. They can tell his zodiac sign – and will argue that he was secretly the most talented in the group, despite never having a solo record within the group’s catalog of hits.
He is even singled out in the Tony Award-winning Broadway smash “MJ: The Musical.” There is a line in the musical where his brother Michael Jackson points out that “Tito is the most musical of all of us.”
Tito becomes the second of the beloved group to transition. His brother Michael, who went on to be a global superstar and pop culture phenomenon in human form, passed away in 2009.
Tito’s passing came less than a week after he paid tribute to Michael via Instagram ahead of a show with his brothers Jackie and Marlon. They stopped by the memorial to their late brother in Munich.
“We are deeply grateful for this special place that not only honors not only his memory, but also our shared legacy,” Tito wrote on Instagram below a photo of him and his brothers at the memorial. “Thank you for keeping his spirit alive.”
When he entered the world on October 15, 1953, Toriano Adaryll Jackson was the third of ten children born to Joseph and Katherine Jackson in Gary, Indiana. Joseph was a full-time steel worker and part-time musician. This Black family from a blue collar town would go on to forever change the face of music.
It is well documented that before New Edition, New Kids on the Block, Backstreet Boys and N’Sync, the Jackson 5 was the blueprint for heartthrob teen boy bands. What might not be common knowledge is that Tito was the catalyst.
A ten-year-old Tito broke the string of his father’s guitar. After being caught by Joseph, he demanded that his son play the guitar in his presence. Joseph was so impressed that he created a group with his sons Tito, Jackie and Jermaine. By 1964, Marlon and Michael had joined the group. Within five years they were signed to Berry Gordy’s legendary Motown label and their meteoric rise to music stardom was in full swing.
Just a decade before, few would have imagined these Black boys with big afros would be the face of pop music – or that the baby of the band would go on to be one of the biggest stars music has ever known.
As they grew up, they grew in different musical directions. Michael and Jermaine became solo artists, as did sisters LaToya and Rebbie. Baby sister Janet became a superstar in her own right.
Tito reinvented himself as a blues guitarist and solo artist. He played with the B.B. King Blues Band.
In 2016 he gave the world his final solo project, entitled “Tito Time.”
Three of Tito’s sons also enjoyed moderate pop success under the group moniker 3T.
“Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being,” the group, composed of Taj, TJ and Taryll Jackson, said in a statement. “He will be missed tremendously. It will forever be ‘Tito Time’ for us.”