Anita Pointer of the Grammy-winning Pointer Sisters has died at the age of 74, according to her publicist. She died at her home in Beverley Hills, California, surrounded by her family.

Her relatives expressed their grief upon her death. “With Anita there, Heaven is a more kind and beautiful place,” they stated in a statement. Ms Pointer, the second oldest of four sisters, rose to popularity with singles like as Jump (For My Love) and Fire.

In 1973, the trio issued their self-titled debut album, which featured a fusion of funk, soul, and R&B. Yes We Can Can, a funky song that appealed for unity and tolerance during a period of racial strife in the United States, was the album’s breakout success.

And their popular song, Fairytale, earned a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance in 1975. The victory is nevertheless unusual in a category dominated by white acts.

After Bonnie Pointer quit to pursue a solo career in 1979, the surviving sisters reformed and went on to ditch their formerly antiquated image in favour of a current pop sound.

They remained a powerhouse in the US charts throughout the 1980s, and their successes, which included He’s So Shy, Jump (For My Love), and Neutron Dance, have weathered the test of time, and are still regularly streamed to this day.

But Pointer’s personal life was marked by tragedy. In 2003, her only child – Jada Pointer – died from cancer aged just 37. She went on to raise her granddaughter Roxie McKain Pointer.

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