Tito Jackson, member of the iconic family band The Jackson 5 and brother of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, has died.

He was 70 years old.

Tito died of a heart attack Sunday while driving from New Mexico to Oklahoma, former Jackson family manager Steve Manning told Entertainment Tonight.

However, no official cause of death has yet been determined.

The singer and guitarist’s sons, Taj, Taryll and TJ, confirmed their father’s passing in an Instagram post on Sunday, saying they were “shocked, saddened and heartbroken” by their father’s sudden death.

“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,” his sons wrote on the official page of their R&B group 3T.

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.’”

“He will still be missed tremendously. It will always be ‘Tito Time’ for us. Remember to do what our father always preached and that is ‘Love one another.’ We love you, Dad.”

He was born Toriano Adaryll Jackson on October 15, 1953, in Gary, Indiana. He was the third of ten children of Katherine and Joe Jackson, who included world stars Michael Jackson and their sister Janet Jackson.

After seeing his son Tito’s promising talents as a singer and guitarist at a young age, Joe Jackson formed the group The Jackson Brothers in 1964, consisting of Tito, Jermaine and Jackie.

When the family’s music career took off, they moved to California.

In 1966, the group expanded into the Jackson 5, adding Michael and Marlon to the group. Tito served as a backing vocalist and guitarist for the family group.

The Jackson 5 broke into the mainstream in 1969 when they signed a seven-year contract with Motown Records and quickly became the label’s number one act.

The band left Motown in 1975, signed with Epic Records and was forced to change its name to The Jacksons.

Michael left the band in 1984 after his album “Thriller” became one of the best-selling albums of all time and earned him eight Grammy Awards as a solo artist.

The Jackson 5, who topped the charts in their 1970s heyday with hits like “ABC,” “I’ll Be There” and “I Want You Back,” were all inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

Although The Jacksons never officially ended their career as a band, Tito continued with a solo career and released two studio albums: “Tito Time” in 2016 and “Under Your Spell” in 2021.

Tito performed with brothers Jackie and Marlon as The Jacksons, performing in Scotland, California and England in the summer of 2024.

A few days before his death, Tito posted a message on Facebook from Munich, Germany, on September 11, announcing that he had visited a memorial for Michael Jackson with his brothers while on tour in Europe.

“Before our show in Munich, my brothers Jackie, Marlon and I visited the beautiful memorial to our beloved brother Michael Jackson,” Tito wrote.

“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.”

The brothers were scheduled to appear in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on October 25 and in Cincinnati, Ohio, on November 1.

with Post wires