The daughters of a pastor in Oakland, California, who also had two elder sons, Ruth, Anita, Bonnie, and June grew up singing in his church.
The quartet’s show featured a distinctive combination of funk, soul, jazz, scat, and pop from the 1940s, and they frequently wore vintage clothing reminiscent of their forebears the Andrews Sisters.
Before releasing their self-titled debut album in 1973, they performed as backup singers for artists like the Taj Mahal, Boz Scaggs, Elvin Bishop, and others. “Yes We Can Can,” a groovy anthem that promotes tolerance and unity became their breakthrough success.
Yes, Anita Pointer, a founding member of the Pointer Sisters, passed away on Saturday, according to her family. She was 74.
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,” her family said in a statement. “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. … Heaven is a more loving beautiful place with Anita there.”
Jada Pointer, Pointer’s only child, passed away in 2003; Bonnie and June, Jada’s sisters, passed away in 2020 and 2006, respectively.
According to Pointer’s publicist Roger Neal, she was with relatives when she passed away.
