Patricia “Bonnie” Pointer, a founding member of The Pointer Sisters, died Monday morning at 69.
“Our family is devastated,” sister Anita Pointer said, in a statement. "Bonnie was my best friend and we talked every day. We never had a fight in our life. I already miss her and I will see her again one day.”
Bonnie and her youngest sister June started performing as The Pointers in 1969 and changed the name to The Pointer Sisters when Anita joined. By 1972, eldest sister Ruth was also in the group.
Their self-titled debut album spawned the hit single “Yes We Can Can” and they won a Grammy in 1975 for “Fairytale” off their sophomore release.
Bonnie left the group in 1977 to pursue a solo career and released four albums. Her disco cover of “Heaven Must Have Sent You” was a Top 20 hit in the U.S. in 1979 but she never achieved the kind of success her sisters would go on to have in the ‘80s with hits like “Jump (For My Love),” “I’m So Excited” and “Neutron Dance.”
Bonnie joined her sisters for the 1994 unveiling of their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In addition to sisters Anita and Ruth, she is survived by brothers Aaron and Fritz.