Pointer died with family by her side
The Family of Anita Pointer has announced her passing at the age of 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 shares 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. Please respect our privacy during this period of grief and loss. Heaven is a more loving beautiful place with Anita there.”
Pointer’s Publicist Roger Neal states, “She was surrounded by family at the time of her death.”
Anita leaves behind, her sister, Ruth Pointer, brothers Aaron Pointer, Fritz Pointer and granddaughter Roxie McKain Pointer, the latter of whom she raised following the death of her only daughter, Jada, in 2003.
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.
In 1973 their debut album gave them the hit single which reached No. 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 No. 1 on the R&B charts.
The Sisters made their feature film debut singing in the feature film Car Wash starring Richard Pryor in 1976.
They teamed up with record producer Richard Perry and changed their style with such hits as “Fire” which went all the way to No. 2 on the charts and went Gold. In 1980 they hit with “He’s So Shy” which also went Gold and to No. 3 on the charts and 1981 “Slow Hand” which went to No. 2 on the charts and became an anthem for women.
The remixed version of “I’m So Excited” went to No. 3 on the pop charts in 1984 and 1985 with “Neutron Dance” going to No. 3 on the pop charts, was featured in the hit film Beverly Hills Cop, starring Eddie Murphy.
Their Breakout album went 3x Platinum with hits like “Jump” and “Automatic” and won them two American Music Awards. This album was the biggest selling album of their career.
The Pointer Sisters won three Grammy Awards and received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994. They charted 13 US top 20 hits between 1973 and 1985. Anita and her sisters have been honored with the Soul of America Music Awards and inducted in the Soul Train Hall of Fame.
Anita Pointer also amassed a large collection of African American Art/Memorabilia and a few years ago at The Hollywood Museum in the Historic Max Factor Building the entire second floor was given to Anita for her Ever After Pointer Sisters exhibit with original costumes, Awards, and memorabilia from their amazing career, Anita amassed many original costumes from she and her sisters incredible career, that exhibit is still up today at the museum. In fact, the last photo of Bonnie, Anita and Ruth was taken at that Exhibit at The Hollywood Museum before Bonnie passed away. This would be the very last photo of the three of them taken together.
