Anita Pointer, singer-songwriter and founding member of the multiple Grammy award-winning vocal group The Pointer Sisters, died on New Year’s Eve at the age of 74.
Anita Pointer of The Pointer Sisters dies at 74
Anita Pointer, who co-founded the historic singing group The Pointer Sisters, died on New Year’s Eve 2022 at the age of 74, leaving a musical legacy as the second-longest active member of the group she formed with her siblings.
Anita succumbed to a battle with cancer that was “somewhat lengthy and heroic” her representative told TMZ, Vulture reported.
Anita Pointer died on December 31, 2022, leaving behind a vast musical legacy that crossed genres. The Pointer Sisters scored numerous legendary hits, many of which Anita sang lead on, as the group received a string of awards including 10 Grammy nominations and three Grammy awards, NPR reported.
Anita takes The Pointer Sisters to new heights
Anita quit her job as a secretary to join her sisters Bonnie and June, who had previously been performing as a duo, and form The Pointer Sisters in 1969. They began touring and performing, as well as providing backing vocals for artists such as Grace Slick, Sylvester, Boz Scaggs, Elvin Bishop, and Betty Davis.
In 1971, while supporting the Elvin Bishop group at a nightclub appearance, the three sisters were signed to a recording contract with Atlantic Records. But the resulting singles failed to become hits.
In 1972, the trio became a quartet when their sister Ruth joined in December.
In 1973, The Pointer Sisters released their first self-titled album and scored their first major hit, reaching No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. Their first single, “Yes We Can Can,” featured lead vocals by Anita.
In 1974, they made history, crossing from the R&B genre to country with a song called “Fairytale,” which reached No. 13 on the pop charts and No. 37 on the country chart, written by Anita and Bonnie Pointer.
Lengthy success and a string of hits
In 1977, both June and Bonnie left the group, and with Anita as the lead singer on many of their hits, the group rose to higher levels of success thanks to songs like “Fire” (1978) and “Slow Hand” (1981), which both reached No. 2 on the Billboard pop chart, and “I’m So Excited” (1982), which spent 40 weeks on the chart.
Anita was the longest active member of The Pointer Sisters, singing with a group from 1969 until 2015. The longest active member is sister Ruth, from 1972 to the present. Bonnie Pointer died in 2020, and June Pointer died in 2006.
The group received 10 Grammy nominations during their career, winning a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group in 1974 for the song “Fairytale.” The group won two Grammys in 1985: Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for the song “Jump (For My Love),” and Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices for the song “Automatic.” They also won two American Music Awards the same year, as well as another for Favorite Group Video Artist (Soul/R&B) in 1986.
