The Family of Anita Pointer announced her passing today at the age of 74. Anita Pointer’s Publicist Roger Neal said, “She was surrounded by family at the time of her death.”
Pointer was a Grammy-winning writer/singer and founding member of the original Pointer Sisters, Anita’s sister Ruth, brothers Aaron & Fritz, and granddaughter Roxie McKain Pointer released the following statement:
“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 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.”
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. Anita leaves behind, her sister, Ruth Pointer, brothers Aaron Pointer, Fritz Pointer, and granddaughter Roxie McKain Pointer.
Anita’s only daughter Jada Pointer, passed away in 2003, Anita’s pride and joy was raising her only grandchild Roxie. Jada inspired a very popular Pointer Sisters song “Jada” in tribute to Anita’s daughter.
In 1973 their debut album gave them the hit single which reached #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 #1 on the R&B Charts.
In 1976 the Pointer Sisters made their feature film debut singing in the feature film Car Wash starring Richard Pryor.
They teamed up with record producer Richard Perry and changed their style with such hits as “Fire” which went all the way to #2 on the charts and went gold! In 1980 they hit with “He’s So Shy” which also went gold and to #3 on the charts and in 1981 “Slow Hand” which went to #2 on the charts and became an anthem for women.
The remixed version of “I’m So Excited” went to #3 on the pop charts in 1984 and 1985 with “Neutron Dance” going to #3 on the pop charts, was featured in the hit film Beverly Hills Cop, starring Eddie Murphy.
Their “Breakout “album went triple platinum with hits like “Jump” and “Automatic” and won them 2 American Music Awards. This album was the biggest-selling album of their career.
They won 2 more Grammy Awards for their top 10 hits “Automatic” which skyrocketed to #5 on Billboard and they became one of the first black acts to be in heavy rotation on MTV, & Jump (for my love). In 1986, Anita recorded a duet with country star Earl Thomas Conley that went to #2 on the Billboard country charts called “Too Many Times.”
The Pointer Sisters won 3 Grammy Awards and received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994. The Pointer Sisters had 13 U.S. top 20 hits between 1973 & 1985. Anita and her sisters appeared on such shows as The Carol Burnett show, Sonny & Cher show, Flip Wilson Show, and Love Boat to name a few, they sold out performances across the world for many years.
The Pointer Sisters also toured for 46 weeks with the Fat’s Waller hit musical “AIN’T MISBEHAVIN”
Anita and her sisters have been honored with the Soul of America Music Awards and inducted into the Soul Train Hall of Fame. They performed at the White House for then-President Bill Clinton, in 1996 performed at the closing ceremonies at the Olympics in Atlanta, and toured overseas in Europe to SRO concerts.
In 2020, Anita and her brother Fritz wrote a book about growing up Pointer & about the Pointers Sisters climb to fame entitled “FAIRYTALE”
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 Bldg. the entire 2nd fl. was given to Anita for her EVER AFTERPointer 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 3 of them taken together.
