The lead singer of the R&B group The Pointer Sisters, Anita Pointer has died. Ms. Pointer passed away on Dec. 31 from a long battle with cancer a rep said. She was 74.
From "He's So Shy" to "I'm So Excited" and "Slow Hand" the Poniter Sisters had a string of hits in the early 80s that became classics. The daughters of a California preacher, they sang together in church before pursuing mainstream music. Their style veered into pop wth the use of techno instrumenation on several of their most popular songs. The Pointer Sisters were one of the most adaptable and forward-looking African American vocal clusters in their era. "Neutron Dance" and "Automatic" stretched their style as their fan base exapanded. "Slow Hand" had a country music feeling and was recorded by country artists Conway Twitty and Del Reeves. With Anita's voice guiding the way, THe Pointer Sisters' version charted the highest at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 list behind Lionel Richie and Diana Ross' "Endless Love."
The song "Fairytale," which Anita led and wrote, was genetically country. The Pointer Sisters became the first Black group to perform at the Grand Ole Opry and first to win a Grammy in the Country music category for the recording;
Anita’s younger sisters Bonnie and June died before her; Bonnie at 69 in 2020 and June at 52 in 2006. Ruth Pointer is the la last remainng memerner of the group.
Comments