June Pointer | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | June Antoinette Pointer |
Also known as | June Pointer |
Born |
Oakland, California, U.S. |
November 30, 1953
Origin | Oakland, California, U.S. |
Died | April 11, 2006 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
(aged 52)
Genres | R&B, Soul, Pop, Dance, Rock, Jazz, Country |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | 1969–2004 |
Labels | Atlantic, Blue Thumb, ABC, Planet, Columbia, RCA, Motown, SBK |
Associated acts | The Pointer Sisters, Bonnie Pointer, Issa Pointer |
Website | thepointersistersfans |
June Antoinette Pointer (November 30, 1953 – April 11, 2006) was an American Pop/R&B singer, best known as the youngest and one of the founding members of Grammy Award–winning vocal group The Pointer Sisters.
Born the youngest of six children to minister parents Reverend Elton and Sarah Pointer, June shared a love of singing with her sisters. In 1969, she and sister Bonnie founded The Pointers - A Pair. The duo sang at numerous clubs, then became a trio later that year when sister Anita quit her job as a secretary to join them. The group officially changed its name to The Pointer Sisters. The trio signed a record deal with Atlantic Records and released a few singles, none of which made a substantial impact on the music charts. In 1972, sister Ruth joined the group, making it a quartet. The sisters then signed with Blue Thumb Records, and their career began to take off.
Releasing their self-titled debut album in 1973, the Pointer Sisters found immediate fame with hits such as "Yes We Can Can" and "Wang Dang Doodle." Subsequent albums boasted top-charting songs such as "Fairytale," "How Long (Betcha Got a Chick on the Side)" and "You Gotta Believe." June briefly left the group in 1976 due to personal struggles; Bonnie exited from the group to forge a solo career in 1977.
Upon June's return, the remaining sisters found huge success, reaching the Top 10 in early 1979 with a cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Fire"; that began a string of hits which included "Happiness," "He's So Shy" (1980), "Slow Hand" (1981), "American Music," "Should I Do It" and "I'm So Excited." In 1983, the group released what would be their biggest album to date, Break Out. It included the Top 10 hits "Automatic"; "Jump (For My Love)"; a re-release of "I'm So Excited", which became a bigger hit than when originally released in 1982; and "Neutron Dance." Subsequent albums spawned hits such as "Dare Me," "Freedom" and "Goldmine." (June sang lead vocals on several of the group's top singles, including "Happiness," "He's So Shy", "Jump (For My Love)", "Baby Come And Get It" and "Dare Me.")