The Pointer Sisters began when sisters June and Bonnie Pointer, from Oakland, California, began performing in clubs in 1969. The line-up grew to a trio when sister Anita joined them.
The sisters got a record deal with Atlantic Records and released several unsuccessful singles, becoming a quartet for a while with the addition of sister Ruth. Bonnie left the group in 1978 to commence a solo career with modest success.
The sisters hit the charts in 1979 with Fire but achieved their greatest commercial success during the 1980s with top 10 hits including Slow Hand (1981), Jump (For My Love) (1984), I’m So Excited (1984), Automatic (1984) and Neutron Dance (1985).
Youngest sister June struggled with drug addiction for much of her career and left the group in April 2004. She died from cancer in April 2006, at the age of 52.
She was replaced in the group by Ruth’s daughter, Issa. This trio had a #2 hit in Belgium in 2005, covering Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves with Belgian singer Natalia.
Video
Related Posts
April Wine In their first ten years together, Canadian band April Wine went through several changes in style and personnel with Myles…
Amazulu Amazulu had an early break in 1984 when they scored one of the musical slots on anarchic TV comedy show The…
Gun Club Originally named Creeping Ritual, The Gun Club channelled punk energy into a vivid exploration of American roots music, drawing on…
John St Peeters Italian-born John St Peeters began his professional performing career during his early teens as Johnny Lo Piccolo, playing the piano…
Joe Cocker The ex-gas fitter from Sheffield, Yorkshire, reached the British Top 30 in 1968 with his record Marjorine. Six months later he…
Cretones, The The Cretones were a Los Angeles-based new wave and power pop group in the early 1980s. Led by singer/guitarist Mark…
Sigue Sigue Sputnik Ex-Generation X bassist Tony James formed futuristic glam band Sigue Sigue Sputnik (allegedly named after a Russian street gang) as a…
Platters, The Formed in Los Angeles in 1953, The Platters were one of the very first black vocal harmony groups to reach…
