Grammy-winning Anita Pointer of Pointer Sisters dies aged 74 | The music

Anita Pointer, one of the Grammy-winning Pointer Sisters whose string of pop, country and R&B hits in the 1970s and 80s included I’m So Excited, Jump (For My Love) and Fire, has died of cancer at the age of 74, his publicist told me.

Pointer was surrounded by family at her Beverly Hills home when she died Saturday, publicist Roger Neal said.

The family said in a statement: “While we are deeply saddened by the loss of Anita, we are comforted to know that she is now with her daughter Jada and her sisters June and Bonnie are at peace. This is her. who has kept us all close and together for so long.His love for our family will live on in all of us.

Anita was the second oldest of four sisters who began performing as a duo with June and Bonnie in 1969 and quickly became a trio when Anita quit her job as a secretary to join the band, according to an official biography. The Pointer Sisters then became a quartet for a time with Ruth, the only surviving original singer sister.

Anita’s daughter, Jada, died in 2003, leading Anita to take over raising her granddaughter, Roxie McKain Pointer.

The sisters grew up singing in the church of their father, a preacher in Oakland, California.

Their 1973 debut album produced their first hit single, Yes We Can Can.

Among their biggest hits were Fire in 1978, He’s So Shy in 1980, Slow Hand in 1981, and Neutron Dance, Automatic and Jump in 1983. 1982’s I’m So Excited remains a standard.

In recent years the group has continued to perform with Ruth singing along with her daughter Issa and granddaughter Sadako.