La Toya Jackson is an American singer, songwriter, actress and business personality who is perhaps best known as being the fifth child of the Jackson family; she first earned recognition for appearing on the family’s variety television series. La Toya Yvone Jackson was born on May 29, 1956, in Gary, Indiana; the fifth of ten children born to Joseph and Katherine Jackson. La Toya went to Cal-Prep in Encino, Los Angeles, graduating in 1975. In 1976 and 1977, La Toya appeared, along with her brothers and sisters, in the CBS television variety program called The Jacksons. In 1980, La Toya released her debut solo album which peaked at number twenty six on the Billboard R&B Chart. Her follow up album, released in 1981, generated the singles Stay the Night and I Don’t Want You to Go.

La Toya had a controversial marriage to her manager, Jack Gordon, who claimed that their marriage was for her own protection; against kidnapping by her family. It has been reported that Gordon controlled Jackson with lies, threats and domestic abuse, once bashing her head against the corner of a hotel room table. Under Gordon’s management and control, La Toya Jackson became known as the black sheep of the Jackson family. La Toya would later sue Gordon in civil court for the years of abuse under the Violence Against Women Act.