How did Anita Pointer die? Founding member of hit 70s and 80s group Pointer Sisters was 74
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Anita Pointer, one of the founding members of the Pointer Sisters, died at the age of 74 on Saturday, December 31, her family announced. Anita reportedly died at her Los Angeles home on New Year's Eve, her publicist Roger Neal revealed. The Pointer Sisters, which switched between a trio and a quartet over the course of their career, released a number of hits including 'I'm So Excited, Jump (For My Love)' and 'Fire', written by Bruce Springsteen. Anita's demise came just two years after her sister and band co-founder Bonnie Pointer died in 2020. The acclaimed singer-songwriter was surrounded by her loved ones at the time of her death, which was attributed to cancer.
ALSO READ
How did B Smyth die? ‘Twerkoholic’ singer dies at 28, fans call him 'best underrated artist'
How did Aaron Carter die? Singer and actor, 34, found dead in bathtub
Anita's family shared in a 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. Heaven is a more loving beautiful place with Anita there. 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." The statement also urged fans to respect her family's privacy during this difficult time.
R.I.P. to Anita Pointer of The Pointer Sisters. The Grammy-winning star died today at 74. No cause given. Group’s hits include “Jump,” “Neutron Dance” and “I’m So Excited.” May she R.I.P. pic.twitter.com/UgV85xYxl1
— George Pennacchio (@abc7george) January 1, 2023
The Pointer Sisters was formed in the late 1960s initially as a duo with Bonnie and June Pointer. Anita would soon join the band to form a trio before sister Ruth Pointer expanded it into a quartet in late 1972 shortly before they kicked off their commercial peak. The talented sisters reportedly grew up singing in an Oakland, California church where their father was a preacher. The band's debut album, which came out in 1973, produced their first hit single 'Yes We Can Can.' Among other chart-toppers were 'Fire' in 1978, 'He's So Shy' in 1980, 'Slow Hand' in 1981, 'Neutron Dance', 'Automatic and Jump' in 1983, and 'I'm So Excited' from 1982. The Pointer Sisters racked up three Grammy Awards over their decades-long career.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Anita's tenure with the Pointer Sisters came to an end in 2015 due to poor health. The group continued, however, performing in recent years with Ruth singing alongside her daughter Issa and granddaughter Sadako. Anita showered praise on the new lineup in a 2019 interview with Variety. "They are doing some great shows and have been all over the world, without me," she said at the time. "I worked with Issa and Sadako, so they got a good feel for what I do until I had somewhat of a forced retirement, due to health reasons, but Ruthie can still sing so strongly and loves it."
Anita's only daughter Jada, who was the inspiration behind the group's 1973 song 'Jada', succumbed to cancer in 2003, after which Anita raised her only grandchild Roxie. “This has been a wonderful career. I didn’t plan any of this,” the late star told Goldmine. In 1969, she revealed, “I was planning on continuing to being a secretary in a law office, like I was doing, when I heard Bonnie and June singing in the Northern California State Youth Choir, performing ‘Oh Happy Day,’ with Edwin Hawkins and Dorothy Morrison, and I just loved it. So I quit my job and said that I had to do this too.”