Anita Pointer of The Pointer Sisters, lost her battle with cancer on Saturday. She was 74.
According to her publicist, the singer – who lost her daughter Jada to cancer in 2003 at 37 – died at her home in Beverly Hills.
“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 and Bonnie are at peace,” read a statement from Pointer’s family. “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.”
June and Bonnie started performing together in 1969 and formed The Pointer Sisters when Anita, who quit her secretarial job, joined them. By 1972, eldest sister Ruth was also in the group.
The Pointer Sisters’ self-titled debut album spawned the hit single “Yes We Can Can” and they won a Grammy in 1975 for Best Country Vocal Performance By A Duo Or Group for “Fairytale” off their sophomore release.
June died in 2006 at 52. Bonnie, who left the group to pursue a solo career in 1977, died in 2020 at 69.
In the ‘80s, The Pointer Sisters had hits like “I’m So Excited” and “Neutron Dance.” They earned the Grammy for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal with “He’s So Shy” in 1981 and the same award four years later for “Jump (For My Love).”
