Anita Pointer, who earned pop success and critical acclaim with the Grammy-winning Pointer Sisters, died on Saturday at the age of 74. She was one of the four sibling singers who shot to fame in the 1970's with hits such as I'm So Excited and Jump (For My Love).
Grammy-winner Anita Pointer of The Pointer Sisters passed away from cancer on Saturday (Dec 31), her publicist confirmed. She was 74. Anita’s publicist Roger Neal said in a statement she was surrounded by family at the time of her passing.
"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 sister Ruth, brothers Aaron and Fritz and granddaughter Roxie McKain Pointer said in the statement.
Anita was the second oldest of four sisters who initially started the group as a duo in 1969. The group eventually became a trio when Anita quit her job as a secretary to join in. The Pointer Sisters stood as a quartet for several years.
The Pointer Sisters' self-titled debut album was released in 1973 and included their hit break-out song, "Yes We Can Can." The song eventually reached No. 11 on the Billboard charts.
The group went on to release other hit songs, including "I’m So Excited," "Slow Hand," and "Jump (For My Love)." The remixed version of "I’m So Excited" went to No. 3 on the pop charts in 1984 and 1985 with "Neutron Dance" also going to No. 3 on the pop charts.
The group was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994 while also winning three Grammy Awards.
Anita's only daughter, Jada, passed away in 2003 while her sister and fellow group member, Bonnie, died in 2020 at the age of 69. Bonnie had been one of the founding members but left in the 1970s for a solo career. Their youngest sister, June, also passed away in 2006 from cancer.
The Pointer Sisters have two surviving brothers, Fritz and Aaron.
(Compiled)
