Anita Pointer passed away December 31st. She was a first rate singer and, with sisters June and Ruth, she was part of one of the 20th century's legendary groups. As Ava and I noted back in 2016:
A group with 21 top forty R&B hits and 16 top forty pop hits (including one song that charted twice).
Though overlooked by some, they deserve to be known by all: Ruth, June and Anita Pointer of the Pointer Sisters.
It wasn't always that line up.
June and Bonnie became the Pointer Sisters when they invited sister Anita to join them.
In 1972, they brought in sister Ruth and that's when they had their
first hits ("Fairy Tale," "Yes We Can Can" and "Wang Dang Doodle").
But it's only after Bonnie leaves (1977) and the sister act becomes a
trio that they achieve massive success ["He's So Shy," "Fire,"
"Automatic," "Slow Hand," "Dare Me," "Neutron Dance," "I'm So Excited,"
"Jump (for My Love)," etc].
The hits included "American Music" (number 16 pop, number 23 R&B) --
a song they weren't so crazy about then or since -- as oldest sister
Ruth reveals in her new memoir STILL SO EXCITED: MY LIFE AS A POINTER
SISTER (written with Marshall Terrill).
Whether taking lead vocals on "I Need You" or singing back up on "Dare Me" -- Anita made magic with her sisters.
The very hot Latino in the video, by the way, is Steven Bauer. He spars in the ring with professional boxer Mark Breland. Now here's "Slow Hand" -- with Anita on lead vocals.
Ruth Pointer is now the last surviving member of the group. (Bonnie and June passed away before Anita.) Ruth sings lead on many songs like "Neutron Dance" below.
Here's GOOD MORNING AMERICA's report on Anita's death.
