La Toya Jackson

Infobox musical artist
Name = La Toya Jackson


Img_capt =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = La Toya Yvonne Jackson
Alias = La Toya Jackson Gordon
Born = birth date and age|1956|05|29
Origin = Gary, Indiana, United States
Genre = Pop, R&B, Dance
Occupation = Singer, Songwriter, Actress, Model
Years_active = 1980 - present
Label = Polydor (1980-1982)
Epic (1983-1987)
Teldec / RCA (1987-1988)
Teldec (1989)
BCM (1990)
Pump / Dino (1991-1992)
Mar-Gor (1993)
CMC (1994-1995)
Ja-Tail / Bungalo (2002-present)
URL = [http://www.latoyaonline.com Official Site]
[http://www.myspace.com/latoyaonline MySpace]

La Toya Jackson (born May 29, 1956) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, bestselling author and actress. She is the fifth child of the famous Jackson family. She had a semi-successful career as a singer throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and returned to music in 2004 with her Billboard charting songs "Just Wanna Dance" and "Free The World". A forthcoming album entitled "Startin' Over" has yet to be released.

Early life

La Toya Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, the fifth of nine children born to Joseph and Katherine Jackson. After her mother became a devout Jehovah's Witness in 1966, Jackson, along with brother Michael Jackson, chose to follow. Jackson would spend some of her time (alongside her mother) evangelising door-to-door. "Every morning, Michael and I witnessed, knocking on doors around Los Angeles, spreading the word of Jehovah." [cite book
last = Jackson
first = La Toya
coauthors = Patricia Romanowski
title =
publisher = Dutton Publishing
date = 1991
pages = 54
month =
id = ISBN 0-451-17415-1 ] By 1974, Jackson was brought into the spotlight with her family after her father arranged for the family to perform shows in Las Vegas and in other cities. [cite book
last = Jackson
first = La Toya
coauthors = Patricia Romanowski
title =
publisher = Dutton Publishing
date = 1991
pages = 65
month =
id = ISBN 0-451-17415-1 ] By 1979, Jackson and her sisters Rebbie and Janet formed a short-lived group, though they never sang live together and soon broke away due to arguments over the direction of the group,because of this there is no material of the group . [cite book
last = Jackson
first = Joseph
coauthors =
title = The Jacksons
publisher = Random House Entertainment
date = 2004
pages = 115
month = September
id = 3809030287] The next year, Jackson began work on her first solo album.

Music career

In 1980, Jackson released her self-titled debut. The first single "If You Feel The Funk", became a minor hit, climbing into the Top 40 of the R&B chart, but the single and album failed to generate commercial interest. She also provided the opening scream on her brothers, The Jacksons in the 1980 hit, This Place Hotel. Her three subsequent albums also met limited success, although she scored a minor Billboard Hot 100 hit with 1984's "Heart Don't Lie", which peaked at #56. Her 1985 single "Baby Sister" is also notable as a moderate success, as it received one of three Outstanding Song Awards at the 1985 World Popular Song Festival in Japan. [ [http://users.telenet.be/wpsf/WPSF1985.htm WPSF1985 ] ] In 1988, Jackson released the album "La Toya", which featured the single, "You're Gonna Get Rocked!". The album also included a track titled "Just Say No", which was written for the Reagan administration's anti-drug campaign. [cite book
last = Jackson
first = La Toya
coauthors = Patricia Romanowski
title =
publisher = Dutton Publishing
date = 1991
pages = 205-206
month =
id = ISBN 0-451-17415-1 ] Neither the album or the singles managed to make any sort of impact, despite production by Full Force. The album is notable for being the first one Jackson released after changing her management. [cite book
last = Jackson
first = La Toya
coauthors = Patricia Romanowski
title =
publisher = Dutton Publishing
date = 1991
pages = 207
month =
id = ISBN 0-451-17415-1 ] Jack Gordon became Jackson's new manager following the departure of her father. The pair later married in 1989, into a relationship which, Jackson claims, was an abusive one. [cite book
last = Jackson
first = La Toya
coauthors = Patricia Romanowski
title =
publisher = Dutton Publishing
date = 1991
pages = 251
month =
id = ISBN 0-451-17415-1 ] The marriage ended in 1996, after Gordon beat Jackson for refusing to perform. ["LaToya Jackson files for divorce from husband Jack Gordon; claims he beat her, threatened to kill her.", Jet Magazine, 3 June 1996.]

In 1989, the "Bad Girl" album was first released. The album is one of the few in her back catalogue that remains in print, and can be found under various titles and covers.

Jackson later released two cover albums, one of country music and another of Motown hits, in the mid-1990s. She plans to release her first album in over a decade with "Startin' Over". [http://www.latoyaonline.com] The album has been delayed several times: Jackson's record label, Ja-Tail Records (distributed through Universal Music Group) has stated that extenuating circumstances have prevented the release. As of mid-2007, a release date has yet to be confirmed; the last tentative one having passed in Summer 2006. [http://latoyaonline.com/PDF/LaToya_Newsletter_Dec2006.pdf]

On December 21 2006, Jackson issued a "newsletter" from her official website, apologizing for the delays, and stating that a final release date will be announced soon. [http://latoyaonline.com/PDF/LaToya_Newsletter_Dec2006.pdf]

After a two-year hiatus, Jackson's new single "I Don't Play That" was released to radio in January of 2007. The single will not, according to Jackson's management, appear on the still forthcoming "Startin' Over" album, which has now been delayed for five straight years.

"Playboy" and the Jackson family estrangement

In 1989, Jackson ventured into modelling. She states that it was her own decision to pose nude for "Playboy", showing her breasts, buttocks and pubis area. [cite book
last = Jackson
first = La Toya
coauthors = Patricia Romanowski
title =
publisher = Dutton Publishing
date = 1991
pages = 227-228
month =
id = ISBN 0-451-17415-1 ] However, according to several later interviews Jackson maintains that the 'playboy' incident was not her idea and what she did (and the things she stated in her book) was under the control and threat of violence from her then husband, Jack Gordon. She explains further that her apparent willingness to pose nude was part of her then-husband's plan to sexually exploit her for millions of dollars. She said she complied out of fear and this was not something she would have done otherwise. [ [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0303/04/lkl.00.html CNN.com - Transcripts ] ] [ [http://abcnews.go.com/2020/MichaelJackson/Story?id=432027&page=2 ABC News: LaToya Jackson Returns and Defends Michael ] ]

Her first cover and layout was one of the most successful issues in "Playboy"'s history. At its time of release, it sold over 8 million copies, going on to become the best selling issue of the magazine ever. She posed again in "Playboy" in 1991 to promote her autobiography and subsequently in a 1994 video for the magazine, becoming one of the first celebrities to have a "Playboy" video aired. It was later revealed that Jackson initially refused to pose for the second spread and for the video, however, Gordon beat her into submission. ["La Toya Jackson files gender-based violence suit against husband. ", Jet Magazine, 15 July 1996.]

After marrying Gordon in September 1989, Jackson distanced herself from certain members of her family, although she claims to have spoken with several of her siblings during this period. Her 1991 autobiography "" was probably the main reason for this estrangement, as it made scathing criticisms of several family members, including the allegation that her father abused members of the family, notably herself and sister Rebbie. [cite book
last = Jackson
first = La Toya
coauthors = Patricia Romanowski
title =
publisher = Dutton Publishing
date = 1991
pages = 18-20
month =
id = ISBN 0-451-17415-1 ] Rebbie Jackson denied these claims, while other members of the family hypothesised that that part of the book had, in fact, been written by Gordon.

In 1993, Jackson, at a press conference overseas, declared that she believed rumors that brother Michael had sexually abused children. She later stated in an interview that her accusations at this time were delivered under threat of violence from her then husband. She has claimed that these accusations would not have been made by her had she not been under threat [ [http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=3VnPqCAv47c YouTube - La Toya Jackson on Frank Skinner ] ] Furthermore, the initial accusations of child molestation surfaced that year, prompting members of the family to refute the charges, claiming that Jackson was "controlled and used" by Gordon - Jackson's father wrote about Gordon's control in his book "The Jacksons". Two years later, she made headlines again for announcing the so-called "Jackson Family Secret Phone Number Line". In 1996, however, Jackson walked out on Gordon after he attempted to force her to dance at a strip club in Cleveland, Ohio. The former Jehovah's Witness (she left the faith in 1987) refused to do so and in return, was booed and heckled by the predominantly male crowd. [Morrison, Jane Ann: "Gordon's family leaves the skeletons in his closet and out of his obit.", Las Vegas Review-Journal, 28 April 2005.]

In 1997, she ended her estrangement with the entire Jackson family and returned home to Hayvenhurst. That year, she divorced Gordon. Jackson has no children and currently resides in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

Divorce from Jack Gordon

"See Gordon v. Gordon"

"Armed and Famous"

On January 10, 2007, the reality TV show "Armed and Famous" premiered on CBS starring Jackson and other minor celebrities. The show was eventually removed from the CBS lineup, having been criticised for its inability to compete with "American Idol". VH1 subsequently decided to air the show, also re-running the episodes that had previously aired on CBS.On the show, Jackson demonstrated her phobia of cats, after she began hysterically screaming and locked herself in a squad car. This fear, she revealed, was due to a childhood memory in which a relative was attacked by a cat. She underwent on-screen therapy to try and relieve her of her phobia. A single entitled "Armed and Famous" was planned, but the title was changed to "I Don't Play That" shortly before it was sent to radio stations, where it failed to take off, on January 29, 2007, due to CBS' cancellation of the show.

Discography

"For complete discography and sales information see La Toya Jackson discography"

tudio albums

*1980: "La Toya Jackson"
*1981: "My Special Love"
*1984: "Heart Don't Lie"
*1986: "Imagination"
*1988: "La Toya"
*1989: "Bad Girl"
*1991: "No Relations"
*1992: "Formidable"
*1994: "From Nashville to You"
*1995: "Stop in the Name of Love"
*2008: "Startin' Over"

=US Top 100 R&B/Hip-Hop Singles=

*1980: "If You Feel the Funk"
*1980: "Night Time Lover"
*1981: "Stay the Night"
*1983: "Bet'cha Gonna Need My Lovin'"
*1984: "Heart Don't Lie"
*1984: "Hot Potato"
*1986: "He's a Pretender"
*1988: "You're Gonna Get Rocked!"

=US Top 100 Dance Singles=

*1980: "If You Feel the Funk"
*1983: "Bet'cha Gonna Need My Lovin'"
*1984: "Hot Potato"
*2004: "Just Wanna Dance"
*2005: "Free the World"

Awards and other achievements

* Jackson co-wrote "Reggae Nights" for reggae artist Jimmy Cliff, which received a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Recording. [ [http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/jackson_latoya/bio.jhtml LaToya Jackson | View the Music Artists Biography Online | VH1.com ] ] She later recorded the song for her album "No Relations".
* She won one of five Outstanding Song Awards at the 1985 World Popular Song Festival in Japan, for her single "Baby Sister" [ [http://users.telenet.be/wpsf/WPSF1985.htm WPSF1985 ] ]
* Jackson received a US Congressional Tribute for her participation in a "Beat It" rally and Stay In School Campaign [http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/3726117]
* She was one of the recipients of a Grammy Award for Record of the Year as a vocalist for We Are the World. [http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/3726089]
* She is the spokeswoman for "Star Ice" [ [http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jun-28-Wed-2006/news/8205417.html reviewjournal.com - News - NORM : A dual celebration for Guy Laliberte ] ]

Cultural references

*In the "South Park" episode "It Hits the Fan", the character Chef refers to La Toya Jackson as the "Black Death."
*In the "Family Guy" episode "E Peterbus Unum", La Toya Jackson is invited as guest speaker since she was the next best Jackson after Jesse Jackson. She proceeds with the prayer "Rub-a-dub-dub, Thanks for the grub. Yay God!".
* A "Mad TV" sketch featured members of the Jackson family being taken out one by one by a enigmatic figure. The culprit is soon revealed to be none other than La Toya Jackson, who cites being "the only Jackson who couldn't do anything" as the primary motivation behind her actions.
*In "A Different World", La Toya Jackson is mentioned several times, as the subject of Ron Johnson's fantasies.
*In The Simpsons comic #71, Cecil Terwilliger laments, in reference to being compared to his brother Sideshow Bob, "Always a Tito, never a Michael...or even a La Toya."

Notes

External links

* [http://www.latoyaonline.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.churchoflatoya.com/ The Church of La Toya, a fan site]
* [http://www.latoyalove.com/ The Universal Love of La Toya]
*imdb name|id=0413765|name=La Toya Jackson

Persondata
NAME= Jackson, La Toya
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Jackson, La Toya Yvonne
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Singer, Songwriter, Actress
DATE OF BIRTH= May 29, 1956
PLACE OF BIRTH= Gary, Indiana, United States
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=