Tito Jackson Dies During Road Trip Back Home To Oklahoma, Plans Continue To Honor His Memory

Tito Jackson, one of the founding members of Jackson 5 who recently moved to Oklahoma, has died at the age of 70.

Jackson's business partner, Terry Harvey, said he was with the musician on a road trip back to his Claremore home when he had a heart attack in New Mexico.

“He loved the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma,” said Harvey.

Jackson has left a big mark on Oklahoma in the short time he called Claremore home.

Jackson recently hosted an event at his ranch, where someone has now left flowers after the musician's sudden death.

Harvey said he and Jackson were on a road trip to bring back Jackson's antique cars from California to Oklahoma when Jackson started having chest pains.

“He was in the passenger seat kind of leaning back a little bit and he said, ‘My head, I'm sweating, man.’"

Harvey said Jackson died Sunday night at a hospital in Gallup, New Mexico and that an autopsy has been ordered.

“We were really fortunate to have known him and have him part of our community even for a brief period of time,” said Patrick Fox, a commercial broker for Jackson and Harvey. “The world's going to miss him."

Fox is Jackson and Harvey's adviser on their downtown project called Tito's Spot, which is just behind the OK Pop Museum.

Tito's Spot would be an indoor and outdoor music venue with restaurants and a Jackson museum.

“He had an amazing life,” said Fox. “It ended much too soon. He obviously had so many plans and ideas and things he wanted to do."

The Jackson family has deep roots in Tulsa through their great uncle, Samuel Jackson, who survived the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and rebuilt their family business.

Loved ones said we can expect to see more Jacksons in Oklahoma.

“His sons and his brothers are going to take the lead on this thing and being more involved now,” said Harvey.

Harvey said plans will also continue for Jackson's fishing show called Tito Jackson’s Hooks, Lines and Singers, for which production will start Oct. 3.

Jackson’s wife, children and siblings are working on funeral arrangements.