Reporting on some major passings here early in 2026
These individuals have been a lead vocalist for the the group Three Dog Night; acted in movies and TV such as Home Alone, Beetlejuice, and SCTV; was the original bassist for the band Funkadelic; and acted in movies and television such as Sanford and Son, Baby… I’m Back!, and The New Odd Couple.
Tito Jackson, born Toriano Adaryll Jackson on October 15, 1953, in Gary, Indiana, was the third of ten children born to Katherine and Joe Jackson. Raised in a working-class family, Tito was introduced to music early on. His mother, Katherine, was a pianist, and his father, Joe, played guitar. It was Tito’s desire to play his father’s guitar that led to his musical journey. After accidentally breaking a string on the instrument,
The King of Pop is one of my 2024 inductees.
Michael Jackson’s solo career is one of the most influential and celebrated in the history of music. Before launching his solo career, Jackson was the lead singer of The Jackson 5, a group formed in 1964 with his brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon. Managed by their father, Joe Jackson, The Jackson 5 signed with Motown Records in 1968.
