Anita Pointer, founder of the Pointer Sisters, has passed away at the age of 74

With Anita dead, Ruth Pointer is the last living member of the four siblings who made up the original Pointer Sisters. Ruth joined the already established trio in 1972.

Ruth, along with her two brothers Aaron and Fritz and her granddaughter, Roxy McCain Pointer, released a posthumous 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 two sisters, John and Bonnie, and at peace,” the statement read. “She was the one who kept us all close and together for so long. Her love for our family will live on in each and every one of us. Please respect our privacy during this time of grief and loss. Heaven is a beautiful place most lovingly with Anita there.”

The Pointer Sisters have won three Grammy Awards. the first, According to the Grammy Awards websiteThe award for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group was for 1974’s “Fairytale”, written by Anita and Bonnie Pointer.

Their country tune has earned them enough credibility for the Pointer Sisters to become the first black female group to perform at the Grand Ole Opry, according to Biography on the group’s website. Elvis Presley cut a version of “Fairytale” on one of his last albums, “Today”.

Like Elvis, the sisters learned to sing on Sundays. They attended their father’s church in Oakland, California.

The group’s 1983 album “Break Out” earned two more Grammys — Best Vocal Arrangement for “Automatic” and Best Pop Performance for “Jump (For My Love),” According to the Grammy website.

Anita Pointer’s singing career began in 1969 after quitting her job as a secretary in a law firm, according to Group website. She retired from touring in 2015.

She was an avid collector of African American art and memorabilia. She has collected such a collection, according to her publicist, that the entire second floor of the Hollywood Museum in Los Angeles is devoted to the Pointer Sisters’ “Ever After” exhibit. The last photo was taken of Bonnie (who died in 2020), Anita and Ruth at the gallery.

Neil, her publicist, said Anita Poynter died at 6:27 p.m. at her Beverly Hills home surrounded by Fritz, Roxy, and Ruth.

Neil said no arrangements had been made. He gave a copy of a handwritten statement written by Ruth Poynter to everyone who loved her sister.

“The pain is so deep,” she wrote. “I have no words but a beautiful song I sang, ‘Freedom’.”

That song capped off the group’s 1985 album “Contact” and includes this verse:

I want to take you there (Freedom)

I’m talking about freedom everywhere (Freedom)

Freedom but you, freedom but me

Oh, freedom, freedom (Oh-oh-oh)

Let me go, let me go, let me go

I want it now, I want it now