June Pointer has passed on

**needlefingers** · April 12th, 2006, 01:36 PM

R.I.P. Little Sister. Thanks for the ride.

June Pointer, youngest Pointer Sisters, dies
Singer was 52

Wednesday, April 12, 2006; Posted: 2:21 p.m. EDT (18:21 GMT)

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- June Pointer, the youngest of the Pointer Sisters -- known for the '70s and '80s hits "I'm So Excited," "Fire" and "Slow Hand" -- has died of cancer, her family said Wednesday. She was 52.

Pointer died Tuesday at Santa Monica University of California, Los Angeles, Medical Center, the family said in a statement. She had been hospitalized since late February. The type of cancer wasn't disclosed.

She died "in the arms of her sisters, Ruth and Anita and her brothers, Aaron and Fritz, by her side," the statement said. "Although her sister, Bonnie, was unable to be present, she was with her in spirit."

The four sisters grew up singing in the choir of an Oakland church where their parents were ministers. Bonnie and June formed a singing duo and began performing in clubs around the San Francisco Bay area. Anita and Ruth later joined the group, which sang backup for artists such as Taj Mahal, Boz Scaggs and Elvin Bishop.

Their self-titled debut album was released in 1973, and the song "Yes We Can Can" became their first hit. They followed up with "That's A Plenty," which featured an eclectic mix of musical styles ranging from jazz to country and pop. They won a Grammy Award in 1974 for best country vocal performance by a group for the song "Fairytale."

Bonnie Pointer left the group in 1977 for a solo career.

The Pointer Sisters recorded several more albums, including 1984's "Break Out," which won two Grammys for "Automatic" and "Jump (for My Love)." The album's other hit song, "Neutron Dance," was prominently featured in the movie "Beverly Hills Cop."

June recorded two solo albums, and later left the trio.

Anita and Ruth still perform under the group's name. Ruth's daughter, Issa Pointer, is the trio's newest member.

Funeral arrangements were incomplete.

**ol'skinflint** · April 12th, 2006, 01:41 PM

so the Pointer Sisters were always a special group to me. They also sang back up for Barbra Streisand.

**markydefad** · April 12th, 2006, 01:45 PM

Poor Baby June. So talented and yet so tormented. She was the one who was kicked out of the group for being so unreliable (drug-addled)

**needlefingers** · April 12th, 2006, 01:51 PM

Originally Written by markydefad

Poor Baby June. So talented and yet so tormented. She was the one who was kicked out of the group for being so unreliable (drug-addled)

It is the tormented life that is the more interesting life.

**discokicks** · April 12th, 2006, 02:14 PM

Originally Written by needlefingers

Originally Written by markydefad

Poor Baby June. So talented and yet so tormented. She was the one who was kicked out of the group for being so unreliable (drug-addled)

It is the tormented life that is the more interesting life.

:cry: That's beautiful...and so true.

**neonlights** · April 12th, 2006, 02:19 PM

I guess that means there's no possibility for a Pointer Sisters reunion now :(

It's too bad.. her voice and presence were such a big part of the Pointer Sisters. She always seemed to be such a fun, daring and free spirited person, which is why it was sad to see her downward spiral in recent years..

Rest in peace June.

**DiscoMan** · April 12th, 2006, 06:39 PM

I had posted in another thread about June that Tampa Bay radio stations reported that she had had a heart attack over the weekend (common with C) forcing the cancellation of the Sisters' concert at Ruth Echerd Hall in Clearwater. Now we know just how ill she was...

R.I.P June "The Sun for sorrow will not show his head..."

**FlyRobinFly** · April 13th, 2006, 12:02 AM

So sad... A voice we loss from 70's and 80's music.

**K-Bee** · April 13th, 2006, 12:15 AM

Sad news indeed. I was never really a Pointer Sisters fan but 52 is really no age at all.
R.I.P.

**Energyguy** · April 13th, 2006, 05:27 AM

Very sad news... RIP June. God bless you.
Always loved the Pointer Sisters.. great, great music.

**remicks** · April 14th, 2006, 02:41 AM

*****

The Pointer Sisters. Local girls . Part of the roster of disco charters out of the SF / Bay Area .

In June's honor I'm enjoying (sadly) their LIVE AT THE SAN FRANCISCO OPERA HOUSE 1974 album. All four sisters.
If you own this album .... don't you love the large, fold-out , inner picture .....one sister is out front dancing ...leg kicked out .. with the best look of happiness on her face .. and the other sisters looking on from behind .... they have an even more delighted look on their faces as they watch their sister putting on her show . Its quite a wonderful moment reflected in the shot. Those shared times , this concert , had to have been one of their best memories as the four sisters ... ......

Thanks for the many years of entertainment . RIP June.

*****

**keefelc** · April 14th, 2006, 01:04 PM

Remicks, that's Bonnie dancing a little solo during, if I recall correctly, the "Old Songs" medley.

Did you ever see the special they had on NBC a long time ago? I think it was called "Up All Night." I'll always remember the 4 sisters sang a little gospel number a cappella. The harmony of their 4 voices together was incredibly rich and lovely. I've always thought the richness of their sound was never truly captured on their recordings. Wish they would release that special on DVD.

Did anyone see the little obit in USA Today for June the other day? They used a picture of Ruth Pointer instead of June. How tacky!