The music world is mourning the death of Anita Pointer, one of the founding members of the legendary sibling singing group, The Pointer Sisters.
Sisters June and Bonnie Porter started off performing in a singing duo called Pointers, a Pair. They became the Pointer Sisters when Anita joined them, forming a trio. Later, the group became a quartet when their youngest sister, June, joined as well.
The Pointer Sisters’ music crossed genres. Together, they recorded songs that could be classified as pop, R&B, jazz, soul, rock, country, and more. They received a total of three Grammy Awards, including one in in 1975 for Best Country Vocal Performance for their song “Fairytale.”
The Pointer Sisters had many recognizable hits, including 1981’s “Slow Hand.” Their recording reached the second spot on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Country star Conway Twitty covered “Slow Hand” the following year. His version of the song was a #1 country hit.
The Pointer Sisters’ lineup changed a few times over the years. Bonnie left the group in 1978 to pursue a solo career (she died in 2020). June left the group in 2004 (she died in 2006), and Ruth’s daughter Issa took her place. Ruth, Anita, and Issa performed together for several years alongside Ruth’s granddaughter, Sadako. Anita retired from The Pointer Sisters in 2015.
As the Associated Press reports, Anita died on January 31, 2022 at the age of 74. Her publicist issued a statement saying she “passed away while she was with family members.”
Tributes to Anita flooded social media after news broke about her death. Country singer Clint Black expressed his grief in a touching post that included a photo of him with Anita. He wrote:
“My time with the Pointer Sisters was so special. Sweetness and laughter and singing with these lovely, talented ladies is a treasure in my memory. My deepest sympathies for Ruth and the family.”
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Our thoughts and prayers go out to Anita’s family and friends during this difficult time. May she rest in peace.