She was born into the most famous musical family of the second half of the 20th century, and that has been both a blessing and a burden for La Toya Jackson. Born on May 29, 1956, in Gary, Indiana as part of the infamous Jackson family, La Toya established her own career as a singer apart from her famous brothers and younger sister Janet, with a number of hits in the 1980s.
La Toya’s debut self-titled album, La Toya Jackson, was released in 1980. The album showcased her sultry voice and included tracks like “If You Feel the Funk,” which reached the top 40 on the Billboard R&B chart.
Her follow-up album, My Special Love (1981), featured the hit single “Stay the Night,” which continued to build her reputation as a solo act. However, it was her 1984 album Heart Don’t Lie that brought her the most commercial success. The title track, “Heart Don’t Lie,” became her highest-charting single, peaking at No. 56 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album also featured contributions from musical heavyweights like Stevie Wonder and musicians from the group Toto.
La Toya’s music in the late 1980s and early 1990s took a more experimental turn. Albums like Imagination (1986) and No Relations (1991) explored a variety of sounds, though they did not achieve the same commercial success as her earlier work.
In 1995, La Toya released Stop in the Name of Love, an album of Motown covers, which showcased her versatility and reverence for classic soul music. Beyond her music, La Toya stayed in the public eye throughout the 90s and early 2000s through television appearances, including several reality shows.
