First Listen: Tito Jackson and Stevie Wonder spread "Love"

(July 20, 2021) Unless you were born in the last decade, there is no plausible way you would have----or could have----escaped the musical legacy of The Jacksons. From their humble beginnings in Gary, Indiana, to their global superstardom achieved with Motown as The Jackson Five and later, as a full-fledged family band, they created a musical dynasty that has yet to be surpassed. That’s in no small part due to their decades of homegrown polish, precision and...oh yeah, the lead vocalist and future icon, Michael Jackson.

Those of us who grew up with the family know their names as well as our own, and it wasn't until 2017 that the third oldest and second son, Tito, ventured out to create solo noise of his own, charting with "Do It Baby" from Tito Time and returning now with the upbeat and optimistic anthem, "Love One Another."

A smattering of blues, a dash of funk and a rollicking foundation of rock and soul, sort of reminiscent to the stylings of Robert Randolph and the Family Band: the blazing guitar licks produce the electrified undercurrent anchoring Tito's familiar, husky cadence: "Together we stand, divided we fall, what delights us all is simply love/today is the day, we chase the hate away, let em' know that we're not afraid to rise above." 

If you were spoon-fed from their musical buffet since childhood (ahem, Yours Truly), it's easy to hear younger brother Marlon dropping adlibs, his vocal interchange with veteran musician Bobby Rush and yes, the spirited accompaniment of another Motown legend, Stevie Wonder (via harmonica) throughout. The message is as deliberate as its delivery, and nearly as irresistible. Think about it: most of us are still struggling in the throes of a pandemic, so if a certified elder statesman of soul wants to drop us a lifeline via a mission statement like this, how could you not catch the groove? 

By Melody Charles

Tito Jackson feat. Stevie Wonder,
Bobby Rush and Marlon Jackson
"Love One Another"