If you’ve seen The Jacksons: An American Dream (arguably one of the best TV biopics next to The Temptations), who could forget the scene when young Tito Jackson snuck and played his dad, Joe Jackson’s guitar, and popped those strings?
After a late-night chastising that had our skin stinging through the TV screen, he woke up the rest of the kids and invited Tito, still in tears, to play that same guitar. His brothers joined him and together they performed their rendition of the Four Tops “ Baby I Need Your Loving” in front of the stern eyes of their father, who we now know was lowkey impressed by his sons’ talents.
He would later recall the moment in a 2016 interview with Vlad TV. “He [ Tito and his brothers] knew we loved that guitar,” he said. “And so he used to say before he went to work, he’ll put it away in the closet in the case, and tell us, sit us on the couch and point his finger ‘ don’t you touch my guitar when I’m at work,’ mocking his father’s voice, who passed away in 2018.
Jackson continued, “Of course, you know children, that means you can touch my guitar while I’m at work that’s what I heard.” He played the guitar for months before popping the strings, facing the wrath of his father and ultimately his approval.
“He came home, saw the string broke and was really upset about it man he took care of my ass,” Jackson recalled about the moment. “And then he sat me down and put the guitar in my lap and said show me what you know so I’m here, I am playing this guitar and crying you know I’m about like seven eight years old and he looked at me, he said dang you playing just as good as me.”
It was that act of childish rebellion that sparked the creation of one of the greatest groups and family acts of all time.
The unsung musical legend and co-founding member of The Jackson 5 passed away at the age of 70 on Sept. 15 from an apparent heart attack.
Jackson, whose real name was Toriano Adaryll Jackson was one of nine children born to Joseph and Katherine Jackson on Oct. 15, 1953, in Gary, Indiana.
In 1964, the Jackson 5 was born with Tito and his brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael. They would later be signed to Motown Records under Berry Gordy and create iconic hits such as “ABC,” “I Want You Back,” “I’ll Be There” and “Never Can Say Goodbye.”
“You could say Tito was the glue that held the Jackson 5 together on their journey to superstardom,” Gordan said in a statement.
In 1997, the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. After Michael died in 2009 from cardiac arrest, the brothers continued to perform here and there. “I don’t think we will ever get used to performing without him. He’s dearly missed,” he said about his little brother in a 2014 interview as reported by CNN.
In 2016 Jackson released a solo project with his 2016 debut, “Tito Time” and a song the following year titled “One Way Street.”
His family was everything to Tito. Unlike his brothers, he purposely held back from pursuing a solo career to raise his sons; TJ, Taj and Taryll, who formed their music group 3T.
“Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being,” his sons posted in a joint statement on their Instagram. “Some of you may know him as Tito Jackson from the legendary Jackson 5, some may know him as ‘Coach Tito’ or some know him as ‘Poppa T.’ Nevertheless, he will be missed tremendously. It will forever be ‘Tito Time’ for us. Please remember to do what our father always preached and that is ‘Love One Another.’ We love you Pops.”
He is survived by his sons, three grandchildren, his mother Katherine, and siblings; Jermaine, Randy, Marlon and Jackie, Janet, Rebbie, and Latoya.
How would music be without the Jacksons? I’ll imagine it’ll be like New Edition without Candy Girl (and no Mr. Prerogative, Bobby Brown), Purple Rain without Prince, the Renaissance without Beyoncé, TLC without Left Eye, Missy Elliot without Timberlane. Thank goodness we never have to find out.
From The Jackson 5, the career of the greatest entertainer of all time was launched. Michael Jackson’s career and impact has enough prestige to have its own college course and program to be studied for generations. From the brothers, we have their little sister, Ms. Rhythm Nation, Janet Jackson, an icon in her own right.
In 1972, J5 received a commendation from the US Congress recognizing their contribution to youth culture. Their sound and style have been imitated but never duplicated, crossing racial barriers and musical styles.
And so again, we say thank you Tito for disobeying your dad, playing his guitar, and breaking that guitar string. It was that act of defiance that truly made music and pop culture better.
