La Toya Jackson

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La Toya Jackson

Background information
Birth name La Toya Yvonne Jackson
Also known as La Toya Jackson Gordon
Born May 29, 1956 (1956-05-29) (age 53)
Gary, Indiana, United States
Genre(s) Pop, R&B, Dance
Occupation(s) Singer, Songwriter, Actress, model, Musician, Author and television personality
Years active 1980–present
Label(s) 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)
Associated acts The Jacksons/
The Jackson 5ive
Website Official Site

La Toya Yvonne Jackson (born May 29, 1956) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, television personality and actress. She is the fifth child of the famous Jackson family. She had a 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, Startin' Over, has yet to be released.[1]

Contents

[edit] 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 one of Jehovah's Witnesses in 1966, La Toya, along with her brother Michael, followed. She would spend some of her time (alongside her mother) evangelizing door-to-door. "Every morning, Michael and I witnessed, knocking on doors around Los Angeles, spreading the word of Jehovah (as the bible commands)."[2] By 1974, La Toya was brought into the spotlight with her family after her father arranged for them to perform shows in Las Vegas and in other cities.[3] By 1979, La Toya and her sisters Rebbie and Janet formed a short-lived group. However, they never performed live and soon separated due to differences about the future direction the act should take. As a consequence no related material was ever released by the trio.[4] The next year she began work on her first solo album.

[edit] 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" and backing vocals on her brother Michael's hit single "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" off his groundbreaking Thriller album. 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 1986 World Popular Song Festival in Japan.[5]
"Baby Sister"
A sample from "Baby Sister", a single by La Toya Jackson.
Problems listening to this file? See media help.

In 1987, 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.[6] The album was produced by Full Force. The album is notable for being the first one Jackson released after changing her management.[7] 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.[8] The marriage ended in 1996, after Gordon beat Jackson for refusing to perform.[9]

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.[10] 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.[11] 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.[11] 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. According to Jackson's official website there will be an entirely new track list for the final release of Startin' Over and that the singles "Free the World" and "I Don't Play That" will not feature. A new lead single, "Love, Honor, and Obey" was planned for a summer 2009 release but was put on hold due to the death of Jackson's younger brother Michael. Instead, "Home" will be released on the 28th of July 2009 in Michael's memory. All proceeds will go to one of his favorite charities. [12]

[edit] Public notoriety and exile from the Jackson family

In 1987, Jack Gordon was hired to co-manage La Toya by her father, Joseph. He later took over her management completely.

Under Gordon's management, Jackson's public image became increasingly sexier. Katherine Jackson recalled her shock seeing La Toya dance in a suggestive manner in 1988 for the first time in her autobiography My Family, The Jacksons, "she'd been so conservative that she'd once dropped a friend who had begun wearing low-cut tops and skirts with slits in them." Katherine believed that Gordon was distancing La Toya from her family so he could "become the dominating influence in her life."[13] Around this time Jackson was disfellowshipped by the Jehovah's Witnesses.

In March 1989, Jackson posed topless for Playboy magazine. Jackson saw the pictorial as a declaration of independence from her conservative upbringing and "to show my parents they couldn't dictate to me any more--that I control my life." [14] The cover and layout was one of the most successful issues in Playboy's history, turning Jackson into an overnight sex symbol. [15]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 acted in a 1994 video for the magazine, becoming one of the first celebrities to have a Playboy video released. It was later revealed that Jackson initially refused to pose for the second spread and for the video, however, Gordon beat her into submission.[16][17][18]

On September 5, 1989, after a concert in Nevada, Gordon married Jackson, claiming it was for her own protection against kidnapping by her family. La Toya Jackson states that this was both unplanned and against her wishes. According to Jackson; "I told him, 'No way, Jack! I can't marry you. You know what marriage means to me. I've never been in love; I don't even date.... It's not right. I don't love you. I don't have feelings for you.'" [19]Jackson tried to run out of the chapel three times but bodyguard Antonio Rossi grabbed her saying, "There's some things you have to do. Even if you don't want to." [20][21] Jackson told Ebony magazine the marriage was "strictly in name only. It has never been consummated." [22] Six months into the marriage, Jackson asked Gordon for an annulment in Italy. In response, Gordon repeatedly bashed her head against the side of a bed saying that he would never let her go. Paparazzi subsequently photographed Jackson with black eyes, which Gordon claimed was caused by an accident. [23][24] From this point forward, Jackson lost all contact with her family and wrote an autobiography, La Toya: Growing up in the Jackson Family, which accused her father of physical abuse.[25]

Gordon hired bodyguards to watch La Toya constantly and banned her from speaking to or seeing her family. La Toya's father Joseph stated in his book The Jacksons that he believed Gordon brainwashed La Toya and made her fearful of her own family. [26] Katherine also believed that La Toya had been brainwashed while Gordon claimed that Katherine had tried to kill her daughter.[27] Sister Janet concurred with her parents saying at the time, "I think this guy who is with her has brainwashed her and made her like this... He keeps her away from the family, and now he's brainwashed her so much she keeps herself away from us." [28][29]

In 1993, in their New York home, Gordon beat Jackson repeatedly with a heavy brass dining room chair, leaving Jackson with contusions on her face, arms, legs and back. [30][31]He was arrested but then released.

In December 1993 Gordon hastily arranged a press conference in Tel Aviv, where he had Jackson read a statement claiming to believe the sensational sex abuse allegation against her younger brother Michael. [32]According to La Toya, Gordon threatened to have siblings Michael and Janet killed if she didn't follow his orders. [33] [34]

Under Gordon's management, Jackson's career declined, booking her disreputable jobs such as spokesperson for the Psychic Friends Network. Due to Gordon's steady stream of publicity stunts and her media portrayal as the Jackson "black sheep" La Toya had become a hate figure of sorts. [35]In 1997, Gordon attempted to force Jackson to dance at a Cleveland, Ohio strip club. She refused to do so and in return, was booed and heckled by the predominantly male crowd.[36] When Jackson became aware that Gordon was planning to feature her in a pornographic film she decided she'd had enough. Jackson phoned brother Randy who flew to New York to help her escape while Gordon was out. [37][38] Only days later, La Toya filed for divorce. [39]

See Gordon v. Gordon

[edit] Seclusion and re-emergence

In 1997, she ended her estrangement with the entire Jackson family and returned home to Hayvenhurst. For six years afterward Jackson made few public appearances. After her divorce was finalized Jackson cloistered herself in her home and lived alone for the first time. Jackson struggled to rebuild her confidence but was plagued with self doubt, explaining, "I got to the point, [...] where -- well, you know in the media they say things like, 'Oh, she can't sing. She has no talent. She can't dance.' I started believing that, and I was thinking, 'Oh my God'. And I started thinking, 'Oh gee, how could this happen to me?' How could I start believing this?"[40]

In the wake of the September 11 attacks Jackson composed "Free The World". She performed the song for friends to a positive reception. This inspired Jackson to write more songs, ending up with a full album, Starting Over.

Jackson publicly re-emerged on Larry King Live on March 9, 2003. Her appearance caused CNN's phone lines to stay busy for hours and was King's highest-rated show in three years. [41] After Jack Gordon's death in 2005, Jackson was free to speak more openly about the control he exerted over her life. She sent a security expert to eyewitness that Gordon had not faked his death a second time. [42] In 2005 she appeared on ABC News to renounce her previous allegations and defend brother Michael against new charges of child abuse.[43] VH1 described Jackson as a role model having weathered various successes and setbacks. [44] The perception of Jackson as an underdog and her support for LGBT rights has led her to be declared a gay icon.[45] Jackson has no children and resides in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

Jackson was one of the first siblings present at Reagan-UCLA Medical Center on June 25, 2009 after brother Michael Jackson was pronounced dead after suffering cardiac arrest. She was named as the informant on her brother's death certificate.

Jackson requested a second autopsy to be carried out after noting suspicious medical paraphernalia in Michael's rented house, evasive behavior by his doctors, and discovering that $2 million in cash and jewels had gone missing. On July 13 an interview was published in News of the World and the Daily Mail where Jackson went public with her conclusion that Michael was murdered.[46] The LAPD is currently investigating Jackson's death to determine if it was a homicide.

She intends to release "Home" as a charity single on July 28, 2009, dedicated to her late brother Michael.[47]

[edit] Television

[edit] Armed and Famous

On January 10, 2007, the reality TV show Armed and Famous premiered on CBS starring Jackson and other 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.
"I Don't Play That"
A sample from "I Don't Play That", a single by La Toya Jackson.
Problems listening to this file? See media help.

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 to 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.

[edit] Celebrity Big Brother

In January 2009, Jackson was paid £103,000 to appear as a contestant on the British television program Celebrity Big Brother. She was the first contestant to enter the house and was the second member of the Jackson family to be on the show, the first being her brother Jermaine in 2007.[48][49] She was evicted 4th from the house and was the first evictee of the series to be cheered on her exit.

[edit] Discography

For complete discography and sales information see La Toya Jackson discography

[edit] Studio albums

[edit] US Top 100 R&B/Hip-Hop Singles

[edit] US Top 100 Dance Singles

[edit] Awards and other achievements

[edit] Cultural references

 Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (June 2009)
  • 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 to say a prayer to begin a meeting at the mayor's office, because they were unable to get Jesse Jackson. She proceeds with the prayer "Rub-a-dub-dub, Thanks for the grub. Yay God!".
  • An In Living Color sketch made reference to her, when a character portraying Louis Farrakhan talked about how racial intolerance made "That poor child La Toya Jackson think she could sing."
  • 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. The real La Toya would appear in another sketch where she, Janet, Michael, and Tito get revenge against Jay Leno for making jokes about them on his show.
  • 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."
  • In Code Monkeys, when Michael Jackson came to Game-A-Vision, Mr. Larrity mistook him for La Toya, of whom he's a big fan.
  • In the 2002 film, The Sweetest Thing, Christina Applegate takes a shot at La Toya's wardrobe.
  • In 2009 La Toya was featured in Sacha Baron-Cohen's sketch film Brüno, the clip was later cut as her brother Michael died.

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.bungalorecords.com/
  2. ^ Jackson, La Toya; Patricia Romanowski (1991). La Toya: Growing up in the Jackson Family. Dutton Publishing. pp. 54. ISBN 0-451-17415-1. 
  3. ^ Jackson, La Toya; Patricia Romanowski (1991). La Toya: Growing up in the Jackson Family. Dutton Publishing. pp. 65. ISBN 0-451-17415-1. 
  4. ^ Jackson, Joseph (September 2004). The Jacksons. Random House Entertainment. pp. 115. ISBN 3809030287. 
  5. ^ a b WPSF1985
  6. ^ Jackson, La Toya; Patricia Romanowski (1991). La Toya: Growing up in the Jackson Family. Dutton Publishing. pp. 205–206. ISBN 0-451-17415-1. 
  7. ^ Jackson, La Toya; Patricia Romanowski (1991). La Toya: Growing up in the Jackson Family. Dutton Publishing. pp. 207. ISBN 0-451-17415-1. 
  8. ^ Jackson, La Toya; Patricia Romanowski (1991). La Toya: Growing up in the Jackson Family. Dutton Publishing. pp. 251. ISBN 0-451-17415-1. 
  9. ^ "LaToya Jackson files for divorce from husband Jack Gordon; claims he beat her, threatened to kill her.", Jet Magazine, June 3, 1996.
  10. ^ latoyaonline.com
  11. ^ a b latoyaonline.com
  12. ^ http://www.bungalorecords.com/
  13. ^ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n12_v45/ai_8904374/?tag=rbxcra.2.a.22
  14. ^ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n9_v47/ai_12268048/pg_2/
  15. ^ http://www.cherryred.co.uk/cherrypop/product.php?display=CRPOP1
  16. ^ "La Toya Jackson files gender-based violence suit against husband. ", Jet Magazine, July 15, 1996.
  17. ^ CNN.com - Transcripts
  18. ^ ABC News: LaToya Jackson Returns and Defends Michael
  19. ^ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n9_v47/ai_12268048/pg_2/
  20. ^ http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/big_brother/article2103460.ece
  21. ^ http://archive.deseretnews.com/archive/62866/WEDDING-BELLS-WERE-A-HOAX-LA-TOYA-SAYS.html
  22. ^ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n9_v47/ai_12268048/pg_2/
  23. ^ http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/big_brother/article2094423.ece
  24. ^ http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/big_brother/article2103460.ece
  25. ^ Jackson, La Toya; Patricia Romanowski (1991). La Toya: Growing up in the Jackson Family. New American Library. p. 261. ISBN 0-451-17415-1. 
  26. ^ http://www.togermano.com/other/latoya/book2.htm
  27. ^ http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24486352.html?dids=24486352:24486352&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Aug+11%2C+1991&author=Cheryl+Lavin
  28. ^ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n11_v48/ai_13230337/
  29. ^ "LaToya Jackson files for divorce from husband Jack Gordon; claims he beat her, threatened to kill her.", Jet Magazine, June 3, 1996.
  30. ^ http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20110349,00.html
  31. ^ https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/1996/01/10/1996-01-10_more_la_toya_stories_the_gra.html
  32. ^ http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-978759.html
  33. ^ YouTube - La Toya Jackson on Frank Skinner
  34. ^ http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/entertainment/LaToya+Jackson-2532.html
  35. ^ http://www.gaywired.com/article.cfm?section=10&id=6391
  36. ^ Morrison, Jane Ann: "Gordon's family leaves the skeletons in his closet and out of his obit.", Las Vegas Review-Journal, April 28, 2005.
  37. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om8CjBgthJo
  38. ^ LaToya Jackson Defends Michael. ABC News. Jan. 20, 2005. http://abcnews.go.com/2020/MichaelJackson/story?id=428847&page=1. Transcript. 
  39. ^ http://www.togermano.com/other/latoya/biog.htm
  40. ^ http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0303/09/lklw.00.html
  41. ^ http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/jackson_latoya/bio.jhtml
  42. ^ http://www.latifaheaston.co.uk/LaToya/interviews/natenquirer.htm
  43. ^ http%3A%2F%2Fabcnews.go.com%2F2020%2Fmichaeljackson%2Fstory%3Fid%3D432027%26page%3D1&ei=_E1eSryWJc7elAfyudjqDA&usg=AFQjCNEGXIGvxMyF_l1seuLT0F3DaoJrTA&sig2=Q62WdEd82XeOAh2HOg4ZOA
  44. ^ http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/jackson_latoya/bio.jhtml
  45. ^ http://www.gaywired.com/article.cfm?section=10&id=6391
  46. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1199092/La-Toya-Jackson-Michael-murdered--I-felt-start.html
  47. ^ http://www.bungalorecords.com/
  48. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/big-brother/4077493/Celebrity-Big-Brother-begins.html
  49. ^ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Entertainment/International_Buzz/Jacksons_diva_demands_on_Big_Brother/articleshow/3937683.cms
  50. ^ LaToya Jackson | View the Music Artists Biography Online | VH1.com
  51. ^ http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/3726117
  52. ^ http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/3726089
  53. ^ reviewjournal.com - News - NORM : A dual celebration for Guy Laliberte

[edit] External links


v • d • e
La Toya Jackson
Discography
Autobiography
Related Articles
v • d • e
Jackson family
Parents
Children
Maureen Reillette (Rebbie): 1950 · Sigmund Esco (Jackie): 1951 · Toriano Adaryll (Tito): 1953 · Jermaine La Jaune: 1954 · La Toya Yvonne: 1956 · Marlon David: 1957 · Brandon: 1957–1957 · Michael Joseph: 1958–2009 · Steven Randall (Randy): 1961 · Janet Damita Jo: 1966
Musical groups
Television


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