Dancehall artiste Toya, common-law wife of Downsound Records boss Joe Bogdanovich, died in the United States Thursday morning.

The Hot Like Fire singer had been off the music scene for some time as she battled complications from diabetes which left her blind.

When Splash contacted Bogdanovich for a comment, he said: “I am not in Jamaica right now, I can’t speak.”

The singer whose given name is Latoya Jackson, is survived by a six-year-old son, Joseph.

A source close to the artiste related that Toya took her illness badly.

“Once she went blind she really just gave up hope. She was in Miami as doctors there were looking for a way to treat her, but she just didn’t pull through,” said the source who did not wish to be identified.

Toya was one of the outrageous female artistes who emerged in dancehall during the last decade. D’Angel, Spice and Ishawna, another Bogdanovich protégé, have also made their mark with risque songs and costumes.

Bogdanovich has risen in the music industry working with the likes of deejays Harry Toddler and most recently Ninjaman and Ishawna.

Toya was the self-proclaimed ‘First Lady’ of Downsound which produced most of her songs including Boss Lady and You a Lie. She grabbed attention on stage with her striking looks and saucy stage performances.