Biography
June Pointer served as the youngest participant in the successful R&B ensemble the Pointer Sisters. Although she secured several solo successes, her peak accomplishments occurred alongside her sisters through multiple crossover smashes such as "Jump (For My Love)," "He's So Shy," and "I'm So Excited." She entered the world on November 30, 1954, in Oakland, CA, as the youngest among six siblings. During childhood she joined her brothers and sisters in performances for the choir at the West Oakland Church of God, the same congregation where their parents worked as ministers. By age 13 June had turned professional, performing with sister Bonnie in a nightclub act called Pointers, a Pair. Substance abuse issues that would recur across her lifetime also surfaced around this period. The addition of sister Anita in 1969 prompted the act to adopt the name the Pointer Sisters, after which another sister, Ruth, joined to create a quartet. An unsuccessful Texas tour preceded their return to the Bay Area, where they secured management representation from the renowned impresario Bill Graham. Studio work backing Boz Scaggs and Taj Mahal led to a 1971 recording contract with Atlantic Records.
The group rejected current songs and appeared in World War II-era vintage clothing, allowing their distinctive fusion of soul, jazz, and gospel to receive strong critical praise and propel the self-titled 1973 debut LP onto both pop and R&B charts, led by the number 11 single "Yes We Can Can." Their next release, That's a Plenty, produced the country radio success "Fairytale," and in 1974 the Pointers became the first African-American women to appear at Nashville's legendary Grand Ole Opry. Further singles such as "How Long (Betcha Got a Chick on the Side)" and "Going Down Slowly" reinforced their commercial standing, and in 1976 the group performed in the motion picture Car Wash. As June's difficulties with drugs and alcohol grew more severe and her conduct became more unpredictable, her sisters requested she depart the lineup. She rejoined after Bonnie Pointer chose in 1977 to pursue an independent career, at which point the remaining trio replaced their secondhand clothing style with Bob Mackie-designed gowns and shifted from jazz material toward modern pop.
The revised direction debuted on 1978's Energy and delivered their strongest success yet when their sensual interpretation of Bruce Springsteen's "Fire" climbed to number two on the pop charts. The next single, "Happiness," also performed strongly. Throughout the first half of the following decade the Pointer Sisters remained regular presences on the charts, delivering major releases including 1980's "He's So Shy," 1981's "Slow Hand," and 1982's "I'm So Excited." June released her first solo project, Baby Sister, in 1983 and reached the R&B Top 40 via the track "Ready for Action." Although the album fell short of sales targets, its polished funk style foreshadowed the direction of the Pointer Sisters' subsequent album, 1984's Break Out, which yielded three Top Five singles: "Automatic," "Jump (For My Love)," and "The Neutron Dance," the last of which also appeared on the soundtrack for Eddie Murphy's hit Beverly Hills Cop.
Break Out stands as the Pointer Sisters' most commercially prosperous LP, achieving triple platinum status and securing two Grammy Awards. June appeared in Playboy magazine to promote the 1985 follow-up Contact, yet that album did not replicate the prior release's performance. After Hot Together arrived in late 1986, the Pointers hosted their own NBC television special titled Up All Night. Commercial results declined toward the end of the decade, and following 1988's Serious Slammin' the sisters left their longtime label RCA for Motown. In 1989 June also entered a solo agreement with Columbia, collaborating with executive producer Carole Bayer Sager on her second solo album, which carried her own name and featured the R&B single "Tight on Time (I'll Fit U In)." The Pointer Sisters remained largely outside mainstream attention during the 1990s and declared an extended break from new recordings in 1994 by agreeing to headline a global touring production of the Fats Waller stage musical Ain't Misbehavin.
June had left the group entirely by 2000. Dependent on crack and Xanax, she eventually enrolled in a Los Angeles rehabilitation facility, yet the Pointer Sisters continued without her by enlisting Ruth's daughter Issa. June later spoke openly about her personal challenges but could not restore her performing career. Authorities arrested her in 2004 on possession charges, and she returned to custody weeks afterward following assault allegations from a boyfriend. After experiencing a stroke and facing cancer, June died in Los Angeles on April 11, 2006, at the age of 52.
The group rejected current songs and appeared in World War II-era vintage clothing, allowing their distinctive fusion of soul, jazz, and gospel to receive strong critical praise and propel the self-titled 1973 debut LP onto both pop and R&B charts, led by the number 11 single "Yes We Can Can." Their next release, That's a Plenty, produced the country radio success "Fairytale," and in 1974 the Pointers became the first African-American women to appear at Nashville's legendary Grand Ole Opry. Further singles such as "How Long (Betcha Got a Chick on the Side)" and "Going Down Slowly" reinforced their commercial standing, and in 1976 the group performed in the motion picture Car Wash. As June's difficulties with drugs and alcohol grew more severe and her conduct became more unpredictable, her sisters requested she depart the lineup. She rejoined after Bonnie Pointer chose in 1977 to pursue an independent career, at which point the remaining trio replaced their secondhand clothing style with Bob Mackie-designed gowns and shifted from jazz material toward modern pop.
The revised direction debuted on 1978's Energy and delivered their strongest success yet when their sensual interpretation of Bruce Springsteen's "Fire" climbed to number two on the pop charts. The next single, "Happiness," also performed strongly. Throughout the first half of the following decade the Pointer Sisters remained regular presences on the charts, delivering major releases including 1980's "He's So Shy," 1981's "Slow Hand," and 1982's "I'm So Excited." June released her first solo project, Baby Sister, in 1983 and reached the R&B Top 40 via the track "Ready for Action." Although the album fell short of sales targets, its polished funk style foreshadowed the direction of the Pointer Sisters' subsequent album, 1984's Break Out, which yielded three Top Five singles: "Automatic," "Jump (For My Love)," and "The Neutron Dance," the last of which also appeared on the soundtrack for Eddie Murphy's hit Beverly Hills Cop.
Break Out stands as the Pointer Sisters' most commercially prosperous LP, achieving triple platinum status and securing two Grammy Awards. June appeared in Playboy magazine to promote the 1985 follow-up Contact, yet that album did not replicate the prior release's performance. After Hot Together arrived in late 1986, the Pointers hosted their own NBC television special titled Up All Night. Commercial results declined toward the end of the decade, and following 1988's Serious Slammin' the sisters left their longtime label RCA for Motown. In 1989 June also entered a solo agreement with Columbia, collaborating with executive producer Carole Bayer Sager on her second solo album, which carried her own name and featured the R&B single "Tight on Time (I'll Fit U In)." The Pointer Sisters remained largely outside mainstream attention during the 1990s and declared an extended break from new recordings in 1994 by agreeing to headline a global touring production of the Fats Waller stage musical Ain't Misbehavin.
June had left the group entirely by 2000. Dependent on crack and Xanax, she eventually enrolled in a Los Angeles rehabilitation facility, yet the Pointer Sisters continued without her by enlisting Ruth's daughter Issa. June later spoke openly about her personal challenges but could not restore her performing career. Authorities arrested her in 2004 on possession charges, and she returned to custody weeks afterward following assault allegations from a boyfriend. After experiencing a stroke and facing cancer, June died in Los Angeles on April 11, 2006, at the age of 52.
Albums