Being an old fogie, I still think alot of the music back then was WAY BETTER than the rap crap these days. I still listen to this one every couple months at VERY high volume:
Bless ya June, you and your sisters are one class act!!
Posted on 04/12/2006 10:48:49 AM PDT by lunarbicep
June Pointer, the youngest of the singing Pointer Sisters known for the 1970s and 1980s hits "I'm So Excited," "Fire," and "Slow Hand," has died, her family said Wednesday. She was 52.
Pointer died of cancer Tuesday at Santa Monica University of California, Los Angeles, Medical Center, the family said in a statement. She had been hospitalized since late February and 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 family statement read. "Although her sister, Bonnie, was unable to be present, she was with her in spirit."
The Pointer Sisters began as a quartet in the early 1970s with sisters Ruth, Anita, Bonnie and June. The group became a trio when Bonnie embarked on a solo career.
The group's hits also included "He's So Shy," "Automatic" and "Jump (For My Love)."
The sisters, along with their two older brothers, 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 and together, they sang backup for Taj Mahal, Boz Scaggs and Elvin Bishop, among others.
Their first, self-titled album, "The Pointer Sisters," debuted in 1973 and the song "Yes We Can Can" became their first hit. They followed up with the album "That's A Plenty," which featured an eclectic mix of musical styles ranging from jazz to country and pop. They won the first of their three Grammy awards in 1974 for best country vocal performance by a group for the song "Fairytale."
Bonnie left the group in 1977, and the sisters recorded several more albums, scoring several hit songs that became identified as the soundtrack of the 1980s.
The successful 1984 album "Break Out" earned two Grammy awards for the songs "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.
Two years ago, June Pointer was charged with felony cocaine possession and misdemeanor possession of a smoking device. She was ordered to a rehabilitation facility.
Funeral arrangements were incomplete.
I remember a song they did that came out in the summer of '82, the summer after I graduated from high school.
It was called "American Music". A nice tune it was.
I've always thought the Pointer Sisters were a very talented and very classy group.
Their brother Aaron is a referee in the NFL. Or was at one time.
They gave out tickets to their show at Caeser's Palace when I was stationed at Nellis. Don't remember which one of them it was, but she caught me as I was going in to the Base Exchange and asked if I was busy that Friday night. It was a great show - they took care of us GI's.
Rest in Peace.
We'll miss you.
My understanding is that June's wheels had been off for quite some time, much like Whitney Houston's are now.
"I've always thought the Pointer Sisters were a very talented and very classy group."
I agree. I've always been a country and rock sort of guy, but I often find myself whistling a Pointer's tune from time to time. They all appear to be good women and I hate to hear this.
FYI, Her brother Aaron Pointer played briefly in the major leagues and later became an NFL official.
The music then is 100 times better than the rap music out now. I never buy music these days because its nothing like music from the 70s'and 80s'. The Pointer Sisters were and are incredibly talented. I know June struggled with an addiction problem through the years. It's too bad she couldn't overcome it.
Blessings to the family...
I liked the "Elmer Fudd" version better.
Sad news.
At one time, they used to wear a 1940s retro look, which looked so sharp to me that I bought old clothes and dressed as they did. I was quite the fashionista. : )
They were a good group, with real vocal talent.
I remember Robin William's HBO comedy special when he performed that version. Only thing that tops that song is Blue Christmas by Porky Pig.
Still, sad to see June Pointer dead. Never really heard a sad song from the Pointer Sisters.
Sister Bonnie was estranged. Didn't go to her bedside.
I saw the FOUR Pointer Sisters in concert in 1973, or it could have been early 1974. Bonnie was still with 'em; they were singin' HOT Jazz then, numbers like "Steam Heat", "Salt Peanuts", "Cloudburst"..and June Pointer was the "Low Alto" of the group..they were just fantastic..I'll never forget that concert.. it was one of the best concerts I've ever attended.
RIP June.
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