LaToya Jackson

LaToya Yvonne Jackson (born May 29, 1956 in Gary, Indiana) is the fifth child of the hugely successful Jackson music family. She is the sister of Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson.

Biography

LaToya Jackson was the first female sibling of the Jackson family to pursue a solo musical career. Her debut album "LaToya Jackson" was released in 1980 on Polydor Records. The first single off the album "If You Feel The Funk" was critically acclaimed and was a chart single in most European countries (#40 on the Billboard R&B Charts, #17 Billboard Dance/Club Play), #42 in Germany, and #18 in Holland). The second single, "Night Time Lover" didn't do as well as the first single release, although it was co-written and co-produced by her brother Michael Jackson. The album also included a cover version of the Billy Ocean hit "Are You Ready?".

Related Topics:
1980 - Polydor - Michael Jackson - Billy Ocean

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One year later Jackson released her sophomore album "My Special Love," which was basically similarly constructed as her debut album. Again, she co-wrote one of the songs with her sister Janet Jackson and she did another cover version of a Billy Ocean hit, this time the song "Stay The Night," which was also released as the first single off the album. Some of her brothers, including Randy Jackson and Tito Jackson also contributed to the album. During that time LaToya was still managed by her father Joseph Jackson.

Related Topics:
Janet Jackson - Billy Ocean - Randy Jackson - Tito Jackson - Joseph Jackson

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In 1983 she signed a new record deal with Private Eye Records, a division of Epic/Sony Records (the same label that her brother Michael was signed to at that time). She recorded her most successful album so far: "Heart Don't Lie," which was released in 1984. Jackson co-wrote half of the songs herself and worked with the producer team Amir Bayyan. LaToya finally cracked the US Billboard Charts with the hit single "Heart Don't Lie" (#56) and scored a few other Top 40 hits on the Billboard Dance/Club Play Charts with singles off the "Heart Don't Lie" album. While promoting the album she did a guest appearance on the US TV show "The Unknown Stuntman" with Lee Majors and presented her current single "Hot Potato" on the show.

Related Topics:
1983 - Epic - Sony - 1984 - Billboard Charts - Lee Majors

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One of the songs, "Reggae Nights" did not end up on LaToya's album (although she co-wrote the song as well). It was given to Jimmy Cliff who released it as a single in 1985.

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Another album, "Imagination," was released in 1986 without much notice.

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In 1987 Jackson left the management company of her father Joseph Jackson and also left the Jackson residence in Encino, USA. At that time she was 31 years old and she decided it was time for her to stand on her own feet. She also decided to let Jack Gordon manager her music career from then on.

Related Topics:
1987 - Joseph Jackson - Encino - USA - Jack Gordon

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In 1987 Jackson signed a record deal with Teldec Records in Germany. They teamed her up with European's hottest dance producer team during that time: Stock/Aitken/Waterman (who were responsible for all hit singles by Rick Astley, Kylie Minogue, Sinitta, Mandy Smith, Dead Or Alive and a successful album by Donna Summer). They recorded 3 songs for her 1988 album "LaToya." The first single from the album was "(Ain't Nobody Loves You) Like I Do". She recorded the anti-drug campaign song "Just Say No," which was recorded for Nancy Reagan's anti-drug campaign for which Jackson was also a spokesperson.

Related Topics:
1987 - Dance - Rick Astley - Kylie Minogue - Dead Or Alive - Donna Summer - 1988 - Just Say No - Nancy Reagan

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Jackson caused much controversy when she posed for Playboy magazine in March 1989. A few months later she recorded another album, "Bad Girl," for Teldec Records. The album was never released on the Teldec label but appeared one year later on the Italian Record label Sherman Records. It was later licensed to hundreds of small record labels, thus the album was re-released at least in 50 different editions under various names, such as "Sexual Feeling," "He's My Brother" or "Playboy." Among the songwriters for this album were German producers Klarmann/Weber and Tony Monn.

Related Topics:
Playboy - Klarmann/Weber

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