CAUSE OF DEATH: Anita Pointer of The Pointer Sisters Confirmed dead

Information reaching Kossyderrickent has it that Anita Pointer of The Pointer Sisters has passed at the age of 74.

Pointer was a Grammy winning writer/singer and founding member of the original Pointer Sisters, Anita’s sister Ruth, brothers Aaron & Fritz and granddaughter Roxie McKain Pointer released the following statement: 

“While we are deeply saddened by the loss of Anita, we are comforted in knowing she is now with her daughter, Jada and her sisters June & Bonnie and at peace. She was the one that kept all of us close and together for so long. Her love of our family will live on in each of us. Please respect our privacy during this period of grief and loss. Heaven is a more loving beautiful place with Anita there.”

Anita Marie Pointer was born in Oakland, Ca on January 23, 1948, she was the fourth of six children to Reverend Elton & Sarah Pointer. Anita and her sisters grew up singing in their dad’s church. In the tenth grade Anita played alto sax as a member of the McRae High School band. In 1969 Anita quit her job as a secretary to join her younger sisters Bonnie, June and her sister Ruth to form the POINTER SISTERS. Anita leaves behind, her sister, Ruth Pointer, brothers Aaron Pointer, Fritz Pointer and granddaughter Roxie McKain Pointer.

Anita’s only daughter Jada Pointer, passed away in 2003, Anita’s pride and joy was raising her only grandchild Roxie. Jada inspired a very popular Pointer Sisters song “Jada” in tribute to Anita’s daughter. 

In 1973 their debut album gave them the hit single which reached #11 on the Billboard charts, Anita and Bonnie wrote their first major Grammy winning hit in 1974 “Fairytale”, (from their That’s a Plenty album), which crossed over from the country charts to the pop charts, in fact The Pointer Sisters was the first African American group to perform on the Grand Ole Opry. And the first contemporary act to perform at the San Francisco Opera House. Anita also spoke of how excited she was when Elvis recorded Fairytale and started singing it in his concerts until his death in 1977. Their fourth album “Steppin” produced such hits as “How Long” (Betcha Got A Chick on the Side), co- written by Anita and her sisters, that went to the top 20 pop charts and sailed all the way to #1 on the R&B Charts.

In 1976 the Pointer Sisters made their feature film debut singing in the feature film Car Wash starring Richard Pryor. 

They teamed up with record producer Richard Perry and changed their style with such hits as “Fire” which went all the way to #2 on the charts and went gold! In 1980 they hit with “He’s So Shy” which also went gold and to #3 on the charts and 1981 “Slow Hand” which went to #2 on the charts and became an anthem for women.

The remixed version of “I’m So Excited” went to #3 on the pop charts in 1984 and 1985 with “Neutron Dance” going to #3 on the pop charts, was featured in the hit film Beverly Hills Cop, starring Eddie Murphy.

Their “Breakout “album went triple platinum with hits like “Jump” and “Automatic” and won them 2 American Music Awards. This album was the biggest selling album of their career. 

They won 2 more Grammy Awards for their top 10 hits “Automatic” which skyrocketed to #5 on Billboard and they became one of the first black acts to be in heavy rotation on MTV, & Jump (for my love). In 1986, Anita recorded a duet with country star Earl Thomas Conley that went to #2 on the billboard country charts called “Too Many Times.” 

The Pointer Sisters won 3 Grammy Awards and received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994. The Pointer Sisters had 13 U.S. top 20 hits between 1973 & 1985. Anita and her sisters appeared on such shows as The Carol Burnett show, Sonny & Cher show, Flip Wilson Show, Love Boat to name a few, they sold out performances across the world for many years.

The Pointer Sisters also toured for 46 weeks with the Fat’s Waller hit musical “AIN’T MISBEHAVIN”.

With a blend of funk, soul and R&B, the group released their eponymous debut album in 1973. Yes We Can Can, a funky tune which called for unity and tolerance at a time of racial unrest in the US, became the album’s breakout hit.

And in 1975, their hit song, Fairytale, won a Grammy award for Best Country Vocal Performance. The win remains a rarity in a category dominated by white acts.

The group almost disbanded in 1979 after Bonnie Pointer left to pursue a solo career, but the remaining sisters regrouped and went on to shed their previously retro image for a modern pop sound.

Throughout the 1980s, they remained a powerhouse in the US charts, and their hits, which included He’s So Shy, Jump (For My Love) and Neutron Dance, have stood the test of time, remaining heavily streamed to this day.

But Pointer’s personal life was marked by tragedy. In 2003, her only child – Jada Pointer – died from cancer aged just 37. She went on to raise her granddaughter Roxie McKain Pointer.

Her family said they were “comforted in knowing she is now with her daughter Jada and her sisters June & Bonnie and at peace”.

Bill Graham signed them to a management contract and they went on tour with Elvin Bishop. The oldest sister, Ruth, joined the group in 1972 to form the quartet.

The Pointer Sisters released their debut album in 1973, with their single “Yes We Can Can” becoming an instant hit, ranking #11 on the Billboard charts.

They won the Grammy a year later in 1974, with their crossover hit “Fairytale,” from “That’s a Plenty” album, which Anita wrote with Bonita and Elvis Presley also recorded later.

The group would go on to win two more Grammy awards in 1984 for “Automatic,” part of their bestselling album “Breakout,” later receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994. They also performed at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics closing ceremony.

Among their greatest hits was the R&B sensation “Fire,” which reached #2 on the charts, and “Jump (For My Love).”