Editing La Toya Jackson (section)

===1980–1987: Solo debut and follow-up albums===
In 1980, Jackson released her [[La Toya Jackson (album)|self-titled debut album]]. In order to distinguish herself from her famous brothers, [[The Jacksons]], La Toya only wanted her first name on the album. "I begged just to have it 'La Toya'. But [[Joseph Jackson (manager)|my father]] said, 'It's your last name. You got to use it.' But I wanted to see what I could do as an individual."<ref>"[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vq8SAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pfkDAAAAIBAJ&dq=latoya-jackson&pg=3355%2C373664 Waiting for the day when she's not just 'his sister']" ''Spokane Daily Chronicle'', June 18, 1985</ref> The first single "[[If You Feel the Funk]]", became a modest hit, climbing into the Top 40 of the US [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] chart. Her second single, "[[Night Time Lover]]", was produced by younger brother [[Michael Jackson|Michael]], who provided backing vocals and co-wrote the song with La Toya. In turn, she provided the opening scream on her brothers', [[The Jacksons]], 1980 hit, "[[This Place Hotel]]" as well as backing vocals on brother Michael's 1983 solo hit "[[P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)]]". The ''La Toya Jackson'' album peaked at #116 on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], #26 on the ''Billboard'' [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|R&B album chart]], and #178 on the [[UK Albums Chart|UK Top 200]], making it her highest placing album.

In 1981, Jackson released a follow-up album, ''[[My Special Love]]'', which generated two singles, "[[Stay the Night (1980 song)|Stay the Night]]" and "[[I Don't Want You to Go (Lani Hall song)|I Don't Want You to Go]]".

1984 saw the release of Jackson's ''[[Heart Don't Lie]].'' Jackson scored her biggest [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] hit with the [[Heart Don't Lie (song)|title track]], which peaked at number 56. Other singles from this album were "[[Bet'cha Gonna Need My Lovin']]", "[[Hot Potato (song)|Hot Potato]]", and a cover of [[Prince (musician)|Prince's]] "[[Private Joy]]." Jackson and Amir Bayyan co-wrote "[[Reggae Night]]" for ''Heart Don't Lie'' but the track did not make the cut. [[Jimmy Cliff]]'s recording of the song was a hit and was nominated for a [[Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album|Grammy]]. Cliff commissioned Jackson to write two more songs: "Brown Eyes" and "American Sweet."

In 1984, Jackson licensed her name to a fashion line; "David Laurenz for La Toya."<ref>[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-3271415/apparel-manufacturers-beat-michael.html] {{dead link|date=October 2019}}</ref> Apparel in the collection included Jackson's signature leather [[headband]]s.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121104103054/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-3235469.html David Laurenz, Latoya Jackson sign 3-year pact.], ''[[Women's Wear Daily]]'', April 24, 1984</ref><ref>By Peter Carlson, Roger Wolmuth [http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20087744,00.html 'The Jacksons Continue to Gear Up for the Pop Cultural Event of the Year at a Pace—Slow—That Is Driving Fans and Potential Business Partners into a Frenzy'] ''[[People (magazine)|PEOPLE]]'' May 7, 1984 Vol. 21 No. 18</ref> Jackson starred in television and print advertisements for [[Nikon]] cameras and the following year she became the [[spokesmodel]] for cosmetics firm Mahogany Image and launched her own eponymous fragrance, ''La Toya''.<ref>Britton, A.G.[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-3934479/la-roya-hit-mahogany.html La Roya a hit for Mahogany Image] (La Toya Jackson) (Holiday Fragrance supplement) ''[[Women's Wear Daily]]'' September 13, 1985</ref>{{Listen|filename=Babysister.ogg|title="Baby Sister"|description=A sample from "[[Baby Sister]]", a single by La Toya Jackson.}}

In 1985, Jackson participated on the single "[[We Are the World]]", an appeal for famine relief in [[Ethiopia]]. That same year Jackson featured in anti-drug [[music video]] "[[Stop the Madness]]". Her 1985 single "[[Baby Sister]]" received one of five Outstanding Song Awards at the sixteenth annual [[World Popular Song Festival]] in Japan. "Baby Sister" was included on the 1986 album ''[[Imagination (La Toya Jackson album)|Imagination]]'', released just before Jackson's record label, Private-I, went bankrupt resulting in poor promotion.<ref name="WPSF1985">{{cite web|url=http://users.telenet.be/wpsf/WPSF1985.htm |title=16th World Popular Song Festival |publisher=Users.telenet.be |access-date=June 24, 2010}}</ref> Jackson went on to record two duets; "[[Oops, Oh No!]]" with [[Cerrone]], and "[[Yes, I'm Ready]]" with artist Jed. In 1987 Jackson was featured as a special guest at [[Minako Honda]]'s ''DISPA (Disco Party)'' concert, joining in for the song, "[[Funkytown]]".