Anita Pointer of the Pointer Sisters dies at 74

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January 1, 2023

By Mithil Aggarwal and Alex Lo, NBC News

Anita Pointer in Los Angeles in 2007. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images(

Anita Pointer of the Grammy-winning Pointer Sisters, who rose to fame in the 1970s and ’80s with “I’m So Excited” and other hits, died of cancer Saturday, her publicist announced. She was 74.

Pointer was surrounded by her family at the time of death, her publicist said in a statement.

Pointer was the second oldest of the four sisters, who began singing in their father’s church in Oakland, California, more than 50 years ago. She is survived by her sister Ruth, brothers Aaron and Fritz and granddaughter Roxie.

[…]

“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,” the family said in a statement.

“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. Please respect our privacy during this period of grief and loss. Heaven is a more loving beautiful place with Anita there,” they added.

The Pointer Sisters started as a trio in 1969 when Anita quit her secretary job to join her sisters Bonnie and June, the statement said.

NBC has details about Pointer’s career.

Like Beyonce and Jay-Z, the Pointer Sisters were Grammy nominees.

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