Father and engineer behind the legendary Jackson 5—including the solo careers of Michael and Janet Jackson—died at the age of 89. According to TMZ, who was in direct correspondence with family sources, Joe Jackson passed away at 3:30 AM Wednesday in Los Angeles. Back in June, news surfaced that Jackson has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Since the news of his terminal illness, his family has been reportedly by his bedside.
Members of the family, such as grandsons Randy Jackson Jr. and Taj Jackson confirmed the news on Wednesday via Twitter: “Joe was loved by the entire family and our hearts are in pain. Let us grieve.”
RIP to the king that made everything possible!!! I love you grandpa pic.twitter.com/SI1C7lUuG6
— RANDY JACKSON (@randyjacksonjr) June 27, 2018
The Michael Jackson estate released a statement mourning his death: “We are deeply saddened by Mr. Jackson’s passing and extend our heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Katherine Jackson and the family. Joe was a strong man who acknowledged his own imperfections and heroically delivered his sons and daughters from the steel mills of Gary, Indiana to worldwide pop superstardom”. The statement comes from John Branca and John McClain, co-executors of the family estate.
Three days before his passing, Joe Jackson’s Twitter released this statement:
I have seen more sunsets than I have left to see. The sun rises when the time comes and whether you like it or not the sun sets when the time comes. pic.twitter.com/PGcmbulzyC
— Joseph Jackson (@Joe5Jackson) June 24, 2018
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I.S. Jones is a writer living in New York by way of California. She is the Managing Editor of Dead End Hip Hop. Her Twitter inbox is closed until further notice, so please send music to music@deadnedhiphop.com. She’s writing herself into a better future. You can tweet at her here.