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La Toya Yvonne Jackson (born May 29, 1956) is an American singer, musician, New York Times Bestselling author, songwriter, actress, and the fifth child of the Jackson family. Most notable for being featured on Playboy magazine and writing her memoirs on growing up in the Jackson family, she had a semi-successful career as a singer throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and returned to the music spotlight 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 her siblings, was raised into the religion. Jackson would spend most of her time (alongside her mother) evangelising door-to-door. By 1974, Jackson was brought into the spotlight with her family after her father arranged the family to perform shows in Las Vegas and in other cities. By 1979, Jackson and her other sisters Rebbie and Janet formed a short-lived group, though they never sang live together and eventually broke away due to arguments over the direction of the group and lack of available rehearsal time. The next year, Jackson began work on her first solo album.
Music career
In 1980, Jackson released her self-titled debut. Aside from the top 40 R&B and dance placings of her first single, "If You Feel the Funk", the album failed to generate commercial interest. Her three subsequent albums also met with limited success, although she scored a modest Billboard Hot 100 hit with 1984's "Heart Don't Lie" single, which peaked at #56.
In 1988, Jackson released the album La Toya, which featured the single, "You're Gonna Get Rocked!". The La Toya album also included a track titled "Just Say No", which was written for the anti-drugs campaign "Just Say No". Neither the album or the singles managed to make any sort of impact, despite production by the versatile hit-making team Full Force, though the album is notable for being the first one Jackson released after changing her management. 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 and controlling one. The marriage ended in 1996, after Jackson was beaten by Gordon for refusing to perform.
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.
Struggling for success, 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. 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.
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.
After a 2-year hiatus, Jackson's new single "I Don't Play That" was released to radio in January of 2007. The single will appear on the forthcoming Startin' Over album.
Playboy and the Jackson family estrangement
In 1989, Jackson ventured into modelling. Jackson states in her autobiography that Jack Gordon coaxed her into posing nude for Playboy magazine. 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.
After marrying Jack 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 La Toya: Growing up in the Jackson Family was probably the main reason for this estrangement, as it made scathing criticisms of several family members, including the allegation that her father physically abused members of the family, notably herself and sister Rebbie. 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. 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 her abusive partner and manager after he attempted to force her to dance at a strip club in Cleveland. The former Jehovah's Witness (she was shunned in 1987) refused to do so and in return, was booed and heckled by the predominantly male crowd.
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.
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 irrational fear 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 on January 29, 2007, due to CBS' cancellation of the show.
Discography
For complete discography and sales information see La Toya Jackson discography.
Studio albums
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U.S. Top 100 singles (Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Charts)
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U.S Top 100 singles (Billboard Dance Charts)
- 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
- Received the Disque d’Or award for songwriting on Jimmy Cliff’s "Reggae Nights"
- Winner of the Outstanding Song Award at the 1985 World Popular Song Festival in Japan, for her single "Baby Sister"
- Awarded the "Dr. H. Claude Hudson Medal of Freedom" from the NAACP for the fulfillment of the values and qualities which exemplify the standards and ideals of family unity and togetherness
- Received a recognition certificate from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for her work on "We Are The World" as a vocalist in 1985
- Received a tribute and salutation from United States Congress
- Second place winner at the 1990 Sanremo Music Festival for her single "You and Me"
- Provided background vocals on Michael Jackson's record-breaking Thriller album
- Has collaborated with Stevie Wonder, Patrice Rushen, Kool & the Gang, and legendary hip-hop producers Full Force
- Performed on the USO Tour with Bob Hope
- Had the highest selling issue of "Playboy" in history
- March 21, 1985 was appointed La Toya Jackson Day by Boston City Councilman Christopher A. Ianella
- Spokesperson for the anti-drug campaign "Just Say No", alongside First Lady Nancy Reagan
- Resident performer at the Moulin Rouge
- Had a cameo appearance in the Frank Sinatra video "L.A. Is My Lady"
- Had a cameo appearance in the Michael Jackson videos "Say Say Say" and "The Way You Make Me Feel"
- Spokesperson for "Star Ice"
- Received a certificate of appreciation from the Black Music Association of Ohio Valley
- Received a certificate of appreciation for her support of education by Warrensville Heights City Schools
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 Petoria, La Toya Jackson is invited as guest speaker since she was the next best Jackson after Jesse Jackson.
- In A Different World, La Toya Jackson is mentioned several times, as the subject of Ron Johnson's fantasies.
- In the Alf Tales episode Cinderella, when Cinderella's father introduces the wicked stepmother, he also introduces the wicked stepsisters by calling for them: "Oh, Janet! La Toya!"
- In an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, a nude baby photograph is shown at the birthday party of 40-year-old character Vivian Banks. Will Smith's character shouts "Eat your heart out, La Toya!", in a reference to La Toya Jackson's popular Playboy spreads at the time.
- In an episode of Sister, Sister, Tamera says "There are only two people in this world who understand what failure is, me and La Toya."
- In the Married... with Children episode "Requiem for a Dead Briard", the character Al Bundy refers to a psychic as "La Toya", in reference to her psychic lines in the nineties.
External links
- Official site
- La Toya Jackson at IMDb
- - La Toya on MySpace
- The Universal Love of La Toya - fan site - latoyalove.com
- The Church of La Toya - a huge fan site with forum
Notes
- Jackson, La Toya (1991). La Toya: Growing up in the Jackson Family. Dutton Publishing. pp. 21, 55–56. ISBN 0-451-17415-1.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|month=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Jackson, La Toya (1991). La Toya: Growing up in the Jackson Family. Dutton Publishing. p. 65. ISBN 0-451-17415-1.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|month=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Jackson, Joseph (2004). The Jacksons. Random House Entertainment. p. 115. 3809030287.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - Jackson, La Toya (1991). La Toya: Growing up in the Jackson Family. Dutton Publishing. pp. 205–206. ISBN 0-451-17415-1.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|month=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Jackson, La Toya (1991). La Toya: Growing up in the Jackson Family. Dutton Publishing. p. 207. ISBN 0-451-17415-1.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|month=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Jackson, La Toya (1991). La Toya: Growing up in the Jackson Family. Dutton Publishing. p. 251. ISBN 0-451-17415-1.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|month=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - "LaToya Jackson files for divorce from husband Jack Gordon; claims he beat her, threatened to kill her.", Jet Magazine, 3 June 1996.
- Jackson, La Toya (1991). La Toya: Growing up in the Jackson Family. Dutton Publishing. pp. 227–228. ISBN 0-451-17415-1.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|month=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - "LaToya Jackson files gender-based violence suit against husband. ", Jet Magazine, 15 July 1996.
- Jackson, La Toya (1991). La Toya: Growing up in the Jackson Family. Dutton Publishing. pp. 18–20. ISBN 0-451-17415-1.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|month=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Morrison, Jane Ann: "Gordon's family leaves the skeletons in his closet and out of his obit.", Las Vegas Review-Journal, 28 April 2005.
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