Remembering Tito Jackson: the guitarist born on October 15, 1953
Remembering Tito Jackson on the 73rd anniversary of his birth, from the Jackson Five to his blues album Under Your Spell.
On This Day · October 15
Tito Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, on October 15, 1953. On the 73rd anniversary of his birth, the guitarist’s story offers a route from the Jackson Five to the blues he continued to explore as a solo artist. Jackson died on September 15, 2024.
The guitar in the family story
The Jacksons’ official biography places a guitar at the beginning of that story. It recounts how his father Joseph discovered that Tito had been playing his instrument, asked him to demonstrate, and recognised his ability alongside the voices of Jackie and Jermaine. The instrument was more than a stage accessory: it was part of the family’s path into performing together.
A blues chapter worth exploring
His second solo album, Under Your Spell, first appeared in 2021. Gulf Coast Records introduced it as his debut blues album and named guests including George Benson, Joe Bonamassa, Bobby Rush and Stevie Wonder. That is a distinction worth keeping: second solo album, first blues album.
The label’s announcement also identified a direct salute to B.B. King: Jackson’s version of “Rock Me Baby,” featuring King’s daughter Claudette King. For listeners who know Tito mainly through the family’s pop history, this later chapter provides another way into his work.
Want to dig deeper into B.B. King’s guitars and gear? Read our full guide through the link above, then explore the blues connection in Jackson’s own catalogue.
Generated editorial illustration referencing David Sedlecký, Tito Jackson London 2017 (2), CC BY-SA 4.0. Pose, lighting and composition changed. Adapted illustration: CC BY-SA 4.0.
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