Biography

Perhaps the least-talented sibling in the Jackson family, LaToya has nonetheless generated lots of controversy, although it's been outside the music arena. She sang background vocals for the Jackson 5, before going solo in 1979. None of her singles during the '80s for Polydor, Larc, Private I or Palass were anything other than very slight hits, though "Bet'cha Gonna Need My Lovin'" and "Heart Don't Lie" each were R&B Top 30. During the '90s, Jackson had written a controversial book accusing her father of incest, and also hosted an infomercial plugging psychic phenomena. In 1992 she signed a year-long deal with the world-famous Moulin Rouge in Paris, but left after only four months, a contract breaking moment that cost the singer half a million dollars. Her country album, 1994's From Nashville to You, flopped and 1995's dance-oriented Stop in the Name of Love failed to do much better. Her divorce from husband/manager Jack Gordon was finalized in 1997, allowing Jackson to reconcile with her family and begin working on her comeback. The single "Just Wanna Dance" appeared in 2003 but was released with only Jackson's nickname -- Toy -- on the label. The single appeared on her 2005 album Starting Over, released by the Ja-Tail label. ~ Ron Wynn, Rovi