Bonnie Pointer, best known as a member of the Grammy-winning group The Pointer Sisters, has died of crdiac arrest. She was 69.
According to TMZ, Anita, the late singer’s sister, said the vocalist died on Monday.
“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,” she was quoted to have said.
“Bonnie was my best friend and we talked every day, we never had a fight in our life, I already miss her and I will see her again one day.”
A timeline of Bonnie’s career
The four Pointer sisters, Ruth, Anita, Bonnie and June, grew up singing in church in Oakland, California, where their father was a minister. It was Bonnie, shortly after graduating high school, who first wanted to move out of church and into clubs to pursue a professional singing career.
She convinced her younger sister June to join her, and the two began doing gigs together as a duo in 1969. Eventually they’d convince their two older sisters, who were already married with children, to join them.
During Bonnie’s time as part of The Pointer Sisters, they scored a hit with Yes We Can Can in 1973 and Fairytale in 1974, which she also co-wrote. The latter song went on to win a Grammy award for Best Vocal by a Duo or Group in the country category.
After she left the group in 1977, Bonnie signed with Motown and proceeded to have a successful solo career with three albums and the hit Heaven Must Have Sent You. In the years since, she returned to perform with the remaining members of the group and returned with a solo album in 2011. She also played herself in the 2010 film Road to Nowhere.
Gloria Gaynor, an American singer also paid tribute to the singer on Twitter. “So sorry to hear of the passing of Bonnie Pointer of the Pointer Sisters,” she wrote.
“My prayers & heartfelt condolences go out to her family, friends & fans. I pray peace for her family & that soon sweet memories of her will bring smiles to their faces before bringing tears to their eyes.”
Bonnie is survived by 2 sisters. Early this year, Bonnie and Anita released Feels Like June, a tribute to their late sister June, who died in 2006. It was Bonnie’s last recorded song before her death.
