Beverly Hills, California – Anita Pointer, one of four sister singers who achieved pop success and critical acclaim as The Pointer Sisters, died Saturday, her publicist announced, Aged 74.
The Grammy winner passed away while with his family, publicist Roger Neal said in a statement. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
“While we are deeply saddened by Anita’s passing, we are relieved to know that she is now with daughter Jada and sisters Joan and Bonnie. She was the one who kept us all close and together for so long ,” her sisters Ruth, Ellen and Fritz and granddaughter Roxy McCain Point said in a statement.
Anita Pointer’s only daughter, Jada Pointer, died in 2003.
Anita, Ruth, Bonnie and June Pointer are pastor’s daughters who grew up singing at their father’s church in Oakland, California.
The group’s 1973 self-titled debut album contained the breakthrough hit “Yes We Can Can.” Known for hits such as “I’m So Excited,” “Slow Hand,” “Neutron Dance,” and “Jump (For My Love),” the singer received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994.
Their 1983 album “Break Out” went triple platinum and won two American Music Awards. The group won three Grammy Awards between 1973 and 1985 and had 13 US Top 20 hits, Neal said.
The Pointer Sisters were also the first African-American group to perform at the Grand Ole Opry and the first contemporary act to perform at the San Francisco Opera, Neal said.
Bonnie Pointer left the band in 1977 to sign a solo deal with Motown Records, with only modest success. “We were devastated,” Anita Pointer said of the 1990 departure. We don’t think it would work without Bonnie. “
The group continued recording into 1993 with various lineups including young family members.
June Pointer died of cancer in 2006 at the age of 52.
Anita Pointer announced in 2020 that Bonnie Pointer had died of cardiac arrest at the age of 69. “The Poynter Sisters would never have happened without Bonnie,” she said in a statement.
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