AP
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Tito Jackson, one of the brothers who formed the beloved pop group Jackson 5, has died at the age of 70.

Tito was the third of nine Jackson children, including world stars Michael and his sister Janet. They come from a musical family whose songs are still beloved.

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved father, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson. We are shocked, saddened, and heartbroken. Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being,” his sons TJ, Taj and Taryll said in a statement posted to Instagram Sunday night.

The Jackson 5 consisted of brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael. The family group, who were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, produced several No. 1 hits in the 1970s, including “ABC,” “I Want You Back” and “I’ll Be There.”

The Jackson 5 became one of the biggest names in music under the leadership of their father, Joe Jackson, a steelworker and guitarist who supported his wife and nine children in Gary, Indiana. When the family’s music career took off, they moved to California.

Toriano Adaryll “Tito” Jackson was born on October 15, 1953 and was the least heard member of the group as a backing vocalist who played guitar. His brothers started solo careers, including Michael, who became one of the world’s biggest artists, known as The King of Pop.

Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009 at the age of 50.

In December 2009, Jackson told The Associated Press that his younger brother’s death brought the family closer together.

“I would say it definitely brought us a step closer together. To acknowledge that the love that we have for each other when one of us is gone, which is a great loss,” he said, adding that he personally would never be “at peace with it.”

“There are still times when I just can’t believe it. So I don’t think that will ever go away,” he said.

In 2014, Jackson said he and his brothers still felt Michael Jackson’s absence during their shows, which continued with international tours.

“I don’t think we’ll ever get used to performing without him. He’s missed tremendously,” he said, noting that his spirit “is with us when we perform. It gives us a lot of positive energy and puts a lot of smiles on our faces.”

A few days before his death, Jackson posted a message on his Facebook page from Munich, Germany, on September 11, where he was visiting a memorial for Michael Jackson with his brothers.

“Before our show in Munich, my brothers Jackie, Marlon and I visited the beautiful memorial to our beloved brother, Michael Jackson. We are so grateful for this special place that not only honors his memory, but our shared legacy. Thank you for keeping his spirit alive,” he wrote.

Tito Jackson was the last of the nine Jackson siblings to release a solo project, with his 2016 debut album, “Tito Time.” He released a song, “One Way Street,” in 2017 and told the AP in 2019 that he was working on a second album.

Jackson said he deliberately avoided a solo career because he wanted to focus on raising his three sons: TJ, Taj and Taryll, who formed their own music group, 3T. Jackson’s website offers a link to a single featuring 3T and Stevie Wonder titled, “Love One Another.”

Tito Jackson is also survived by his brothers Jermaine, Randy, Marlon and Jackie, his sisters Janet, Rebbie and Latoya and their mother, Katherine. Their father died in 2018.

Entertainment Tonight was first to report that Jackson had died.