The Pointer Sisters, photo by Chris Foster/Shutterstock
(link takes you to Rolling Stone’s article about when they hit the country charts)
Please click on each sister’s name link to take you to The Pointer Sister’s website for a full bio
Ruth Pointer (b. 3/14/1946)
Anita Pointer (b. 1/23/1948 — 12/31/2022)
Bonnie Pointer (b. 7/11/1950 – d. 6/8/2020)
June Pointer (b. 11/30/1953 – d. 4/11/2006)
Bonnie and youngest sister June began singing together in their father’s West Oakland Church of God in Oakland, California. They were the first two of the sisters to pursue a professional career, the Pointers (otherwise known as the Pair) in 1969. After Anita joined the duo that same year, they changed their name to the Pointer Sisters and recorded several singles for Atlantic Records between 1971 and 1972. In December 1972, after several singles had been released, oldest sister Ruth wanted to join the group and afterwards, the four released their debut album as the Pointer Sisters in 1973. Their self-titled debut album yielded the hit “Yes We Can Can”. Between 1973 and 1977, the Pointers donned 1940s fashions and sang in a style reminiscent of the Andrews Sisters. Their music included R&B, funk, rock and roll, gospel, country and soul.
Musical Beginnings:
As children in West Oakland, the Pointer sisters and brothers were encouraged to listen to and sing gospel music by their parents Reverend Elton and Sarah Pointer. However, they were told rock and roll and the blues were “the devil’s music”, and it was only when they were away from their watchful parents that they could sing these styles. They regularly sang at a local Church of God in Christ congregation in West Oakland, but as the sisters grew older their love of other styles of music began to grow.
The sisters graduated from Oakland Technical High School: Ruth in 1963, Anita in 1965, and Bonnie in 1968. After leaving school, oldest sister Ruth was already married with two children Faun (born 1965) and Malik (born 1966;) Anita, the second-oldest sister, also was married with a child Jada. Bonnie, the third oldest sister, and June, the youngest, sought a show business career and they formed a duo, ‘Pointers Au Pair’. Later, Anita quit her job to join the group. They began touring and performing and provided backing vocals for artists such as Grace Slick, Sylvester, Boz Scaggs, Elvin Bishop and Betty Davis.
Discography:
|
Studio albums |
15 |
|---|---|
|
Live albums |
3 |
|
Compilation albums |
11 |
|
Singles |
51 |
|
Soundtrack albums |
1 |
Some things to share:
The Pointer Sisters continues today, with Ruth, Issa, and Sadako Pointer. Issa Kuren Edwards, aka Issa Pointer, is Ruth’s daughter. Sadako Ruth Pointer Johnson, aka Sadako Pointer, is the granddaughter of Ruth Pointer. Now how cool is that?
Official website: here
This is one HELLA good song.
A lot of additional info about the charting in this one.
Source: wikipedia and The Pointer Sisters official website (see link above)
Tao Talk 
I know I’ve got around ten of their singles on 7″ but none of their albums.
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Glyn, that’s a lot! I love the Fairytale song and the video I included. They brought a lot of light to the world and still are bringing it!
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I like the Pointer Sisters…that is so cool that they continue on to this day. Back then we had The Pointer Sisters and Sister Sledge…kinda throw back to the sixties female groups which was cool.
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Doesn’t Sister Sledge do We Are Family? I used to dance to that at the clubs. Fun times back then. I love their music!
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Yes! That was 1979…I watched the Pirates that year in the World Series and that was their team song…I still like it.
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I do love that song. It was the year before I met my now ex-husband.
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Thanks for talking about them, I really did not know much about them personally. Obviously the hit songs but I frequently run across them for some great covers, they have an impressive take on a wide range of genre.
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You’re welcome, Randy, and they are extremely talented performers. Happy to know the family is carrying on with the music.
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I always liked their style as well as their music. “Yes we Can Can”—love that song. (K)
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“Now’s the time for all….” Yes it presents as a resonant anthem <3
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Another great pick, Lisa. I love what I’ve heard of The Pointer Sisters. They were quite versatile.
I’m best familiar with their albums Energy (1978), which is the one with their excellent rendition of Springsteen’s “Fire” and also has a cool cover of Steely Dan’s “Dirty Work”, as the follow-on “Priority” (1979). Both of these albums are rock-oriented.
I didn’t realize a version of The Pointer Sisters continues to this day. They still sound pretty good! :-)
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Sounds good, Christian. Thanks for sharing that link. I love their version of Fire way more than Bruce Springsteen’s. Of course I had to go out and listen to Dirty Work. Not bad!
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I was very underwhelmed when I first heard Springsteen’s original of “Fire.” I had no idea in the first he had the the song.
After Springsteen had entered my radar screen with the “Born in the U.S.A.” album I got his compilation “Live 1975–85” when it came out in 1986. That’s when I first many of his older classics like “Thunder Road”, “Spirit In the Night” and “Born to Run”.
And “Fire”! At first I couldn’t believe my ears, feeling it completely lacked energy and sounded flat. While I subsequently warmed to Springsteen’s version, I still prefer the Pointer Sisters.
Here’s another track off the “Energy” album I dig. This is smoking rock & roll! :-)
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The first time I heard Bruce do it was a live version, which I thought was ok, but like you said, no energy to it. The song at the link is good. I like “Slow Hand” also, but I think that one was a little later, after one or more of the sisters left.
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It’s a great hat trick! Great sound, great energy, great post!
Thanks, Lisa!
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Thanks much, Nancy, glad you enjoyed :)
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I always loved them
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Keith, glad you are a long-time fan. I’ve liked anything they’ve done that I’ve heard.
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The sisters look so good together. They are one of those artists whose music I’ve certainly heard before, but I wouldn’t be able to name a single song of theirs.
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Yes they do. Oh Gia, you need to do a YouTube Tour. “Fire” “Yes We Can Can” are two of my favorites (aside from Fairytale.
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I was hoping I’d recognise at least one of those titles, but no. However, I will explore at some point since you insist. 🤓
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I’m still doing the Neutron Dance. Love the Pointers!
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Ha! Great!
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I remember this band when I was growing up in the 80’s they were very popular! I love the song, I’m so excited!
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They were at the top of the charts for a long time. I like that one also. High energy!
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