Bonnie Pointer, the founding member of the Grammy award-winning R&B group The Pointer Sisters, has died overnight at the age of 69.
Though the cause of her death remains unclear at this stage, the news was announced in a statement to the press from her sister and fellow band member, Anita Pointer.
Bonnie Pointer, founding member of the Grammy-award winning R&B sister group, The Pointer Sisters, has died overnight at the age of 69.
In a statement to TMZ, Anita Pointer confirmed the passing of her sister: “It is with great sadness that I have to announce to the fans of The Pointer Sisters that my sister, Bonnie died this morning. Our family is devastated, on behalf of my siblings and I and the entire Pointer family, we ask for your prayers at this time.”
The popular quartet started as a duo in 1969 when Bonnie and her sister June performed in nightclubs under the name Pointers, a Pair. Sisters Anita and Ruth later joined, and the group rebranded to become The Pointer Sisters.
The group signed to Blue Thumb Records in 1972, releasing their debut self-titled album the following year which featured their first top 20 hit single, Yes We Can Can. The group had a number of notable achievements in the years that followed, with the smash hit Fairytale winning them their first Grammy and I’m So Excited achieving billboard success.
Bonnie left The Pointer Sisters to pursue a solo career in 1977, her debut solo single Heaven Must Have Sent You reaching No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. After three solo albums, Bonnie largely retired from the recorded music scene, but would still perform regularly for her many adoring fans.
