June Pointer

June Antoinette Pointer (November 30, 1953 – April 11, 2006) was an American singer, best known as the youngest of the founding members of the vocal group the Pointer Sisters.

Early life and career

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 duo Pointers, A Pair. June and Bonnie sang at numerous clubs, then became a trio later that year when sister Anita quit her job as a secretary, wanting to join the group. 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 wanted to join the group, now making it a quartet. The four then signed with Blue Thumb Records. As a trio the group made several singles, now as a quartet they would record their first album.

The Pointer Sisters and solo career

Releasing their self-titled debut album ''The Pointer Sisters'' in 1973, the group found success with hits such as " Yes We Can Can" and "Wang Dang Doodle". Subsequent albums boasted hits such as " Fairytale", " How Long (Betcha Got a Chick on the Side)" and "You Gotta Believe". June left the group in November 1975, having been advised to retire because of physical and mental exhaustion. Bonnie then left the group in 1977 to start a solo career. June had considered returning to the group but decided not to since Bonnie had departed.

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"; this time began a string of hits that 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 '' Break Out'', their biggest album to date. 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 biggest singles, including "Happiness", "He's So Shy", "Should I Do It", "Jump (For My Love)", "Baby Come and Get It" and "Dare Me".

Eventually, June ventured into a solo career while staying with the Pointer Sisters. Her album '' Baby Sister'' was released in 1983, scoring a modest R&B hit with the song "Ready for Some Action" (US R&B #28). Her second solo album '' June Pointer'' was released in 1989, with the R&B charting single "Tight on Time (Fit U In)" (US R&B #70). June also performed the song "Little Boy Sweet" for the 1983 film ''National Lampoon's Vacation''. In 1987, June scored a top-5 US Hot 100 hit with Bruce Willis with a cover of the Staples Singers' song " Respect Yourself". She posed for ''Playboy'' in 1985. In September 1994, the Pointer Sisters received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Personal life

June was married to William Oliver Whitmore II from 1978 until 1991. She had no children. She was addicted to cocaine for much of her career, and she was ousted from the Pointer Sisters in 2004. On April 22, 2004, June was charged with felony cocaine possession and misdemeanor possession of a smoking device. She was ordered to a rehabilitation facility. The late singer’s sister would later point out that the singer’s addiction was due to a gang rape that occurred when she was 14/15 years old.

Death

On February 27, 2006, June suffered a stroke. While hospitalized, she was diagnosed with a final stage of gastric cancer, which had metastasized in her pancreas, bones, liver and lungs. She died at UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica, California on April 11, 2006, at the age of 52. A family statement said June died "in the arms of her sisters Ruth and Anita and her brothers Aaron and Fritz by her side". Pointer's funeral was held at the Church of the Hills in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles. Pointer was cremated, and her ashes were buried at Mt. Tamalpais Cemetery in San Rafael, California.Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d Ed.
Wilson, Scott (2016) McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers.

Discography

Solo

'' Baby Sister'' (1983, Planet Records)
# "Ready for Some Action" (5:59) #28 R&B
# "I Will Understand" (4:32)
# "To You, My Love" (4:26)
# "New Love, True Love" (4:23)
# "I'm Ready for Love" (3:58)
# "You Can Do It" (4:32)
# "Always" (3:50)
# "My Blues Have Gone" (4:25)
# "Don't Mess With Bill" (3:07)

June recorded a duet with Dionne Warwick, "Heartbreak of Love", for Warwick's 1987 album '' Reservations for Two''. Their duet later appeared on the B-side of Warwick's 1989 single "Take Good Care of You and Me".

'' June Pointer'' (1989, Columbia Records)
# "Tight on Time (I'll Fit U In)" (4:00) #70 R&B
# "Parlez Moi D'Amour (Let's Talk About Love)" (4:38)
# "Why Can't We Be Together" (4:34) duet with Phil Perry
# "How Long (Don't Make Me Wait)" (4:21)
# "Put Your Dreams Where Your Heart Is" (4:57)
# "Keeper of the Flame" (4:50)
# "Love Calling" (3:36)
# "Fool for Love" (4:35)
# "Live with Me" (5:35)
# "Love on the Line" (5:10)

References

External links

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Remembering June Pointer
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Pointer, June
1953 births
2006 deaths
The Pointer Sisters members
20th-century African-American women singers
American rhythm and blues singers
Deaths from stomach cancer in California
Singers from Oakland, California
June
20th-century American singers
20th-century American women singers
21st-century African-American musicians
21st-century African-American women