Tito Jackson, the founder of the iconic 1970s hitmakers The Jackson 5, which starred a young Michael Jackson and is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, died Sunday after reportedly suffering a heart attack while driving. He was 70.

His sons TJ, Taryll and Taj Jackson, who form the band 3T, posted the news on social media.

“We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken,” the trio wrote on Facebook. “Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being. Some of you may know him as Tito Jackson of the legendary Jackson 5, some may know him as ‘Coach Tito’ or some may know him as ‘Poppa T.’ Regardless, he will be deeply missed.”

Also featuring brothers Jermaine, Marlon, Jackie and later Randy, the group burst onto the scene from Indiana in 1969 with their first four singles all reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100: “I Want You Back”, “ABC”, “The Love You Save” and “I’ll Be There”. Their next two singles – “Mama’s Pearl” and “Never Can Say Goodbye” reached No. 2 in 1970. In all, The Jackson 5 – later called The Jacksons – had 10 Top 10 hits in the ’70s and one more, “State of Shock”, in 1984. They also scored seven Top 10 hits in the UK.

The band’s first four LPs all reached the Top 5 of the Billboard 200 in 1970, with their groundbreaking Jackson 5 Christmas Album topped the charts in December. They would score four more Top 10 long players in the US through 1984

Tito Jackson was born Toriano Adaryll Jackson on October 15, 1953, in Gary, IN, and was the second oldest of the group, which came together in the mid-1960s under the watchful eye and heavy hand of their father, Joe Jackson. The group won an amateur talent contest at the Apollo Theater in 1967 and signed with Berry Gordy’s hugely successful Motown Records in 1969, leading to their string of hits, which also included “Dancing Machine,” “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)” and “Enjoy Yourself.”

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Lead singer Michael was only 11 when the group broke through, and he would go on to release powerful solo albums Off the wall (1979) and Exciting (1982), cementing his nickname as The King of Pop and further distancing himself from the group. Michael and his brothers embarked on the massive stadium-touring Victory Tour in 1984, and years later, a special 30th anniversary concert recorded at Madison Square Garden in 2001. Michael Jackson died in 2009 at the age of 50, and his brothers — along with sisters La Toya and Janet — attended his memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Tito Jackson began a solo career in the early 2000s, which included the albums Tito time (2016) and Under your spell (2021).

He is survived by his three sons and nine grandchildren. Delores Jackson, who married Tito in 1972 and is the mother of TJ, Taryll and Taj Jackson, died in 1994.