Janet Jackson finally broke her silence about her big brother Toriano “Tito” Jackson on Tuesday in honor of what would have been his 71st birthday.
The 58-year-old R&B diva – who has 20.8 million social media followers – Installed a black and white childhood photo of the siblings with the caption, “May you rest in eternal peace.” I miss you so much!’
The Jackson 5 member died of a heart attack in a New Mexico hospital on September 15 during a road trip from California to Oklahoma with two friends.
“We just finished eating turkey and chicken, laughing and talking,” Terry Harvey Maltbia told DailyMail.com.
‘We were putting the top on the convertible because it started to rain. At that moment, Tito came back through the passenger window and said, “My chest hurts. Can you help Ronnie finish the story? [car] top?” He said, “I don’t feel good in my chest.” He wiped his face, took off his shirt and it was as if someone had thrown a bucket of water on him.”
Janet Jackson (R, pictured in 2007) finally broke her silence about her big brother Toriano ‘Tito’ Jackson (L) on Tuesday in honor of what would have been his 71st birthday
The 58-year-old R&B diva – who has 20.8 million social media followers – posted a black and white childhood photo of the siblings with the caption: ‘May you rest in eternal peace. I miss you so much!’
Janet’s sister La Toya Jackson shared a video on Instagram Tuesday caption: “Happy Heavenly Birthday Tito! I will always love you!’
Jackson’s brother Jackie Jackson posted a photo Instagram Tuesday caption: “Your first heavenly birthday reminds us that although you may have left this world, your memory will be forever etched in our hearts.”
Tito is survived by his nine grandchildren, as well as his three sons: Taj, 51; Taryll, 49; and TJ, 46 – from his 16-year marriage to Delores “Dee Dee” Martes, which ended in 1988.
Taryll posted on Tuesday: “If I could get one more phone call I would tell you how much I love you. How grateful I am and how wonderful you are. I’ve always tried to show my love and appreciation because I always wanted you to know. I cherish all the wonderful memories, especially the past few years. I really got to understand you better and learn more about you. How simple you were and what was most important to you.
“I can remember our conversations and your words clearly in my mind. You’ve given me so much and yet I wish I had more. More time, more laughter, more conversations, more lessons, more stories, more memories, more music, more father and son time. I miss you and I love you, Dad. Happy Heavenly Birthday!’
Taj responded to Taryll’s post with a red heart emoji, and TJ responded to Tito’s official Instagram video on Tuesday: “I miss you, pops.” I love you doll. Thank you for everything you’ve done for us.’
Janet regularly shares posts dedicated to her late brother Michael Jackson, who died in 2009 at the age of 50 from “acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication.”
Last month, Jackson made headlines for claiming that Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris is “not black.”
“Her father is white. That’s what I was told. I mean, I haven’t seen any news in a few days,” the five-time Grammy winner said The Guardian.
The Jackson 5 member died of a heart attack in a New Mexico hospital on September 15 during a road trip from California to Oklahoma with two friends (pictured with Ronald Balfour and Terry Harvey Maltbia)
Janet’s sister La Toya Jackson shared a video on Instagram on Tuesday with the caption: ‘Happy Heavenly Birthday Tito! I will always love you!’
Jackson’s brother Jackie Jackson posted a photo to Instagram on Tuesday with the caption: “Your first heavenly birthday is a reminder that although you may have left this world, your memory will be forever etched in our hearts.”
Last month, the five-time Grammy winner made headlines for claiming to The Guardian that Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris is ‘not black’ (photo September 9)
On December 30, Janet – who just wrapped up her 94-date Together Again Tour – will kick off her 10-day Las Vegas residency at the Resorts World Theater.
“I was told they discovered her father was white.”
The 59-year-old vice president is known to be the daughter of Jamaican-American economist Donald J. Harris, who split from Indian biomedical scientist Shyamala Gopalan at the age of five.
On December 30, Janet – who just wrapped up her 94-date Together Again Tour – will kick off her 10-day Las Vegas residency at the Resorts World Theater.
Janet Jackson: Las Vegas will hold a New Year’s Eve concert on December 31.
Jackson has sold more than 100 million records and still gets 5.6 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
The Oscar-nominated songwriter got her start at age 10, appearing on her famous family’s 1976 CBS variety show before landing acting roles in Good Times, Diff’rent Strokes and Fame.