Nov. 30: June Pointer, lead vocalist of the vocal group The Pointer Sisters, was born on this date in 1953...

 

... sadly, she died on April 11, 2006.

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The Pointer Sisters, from  Oakland, California achieved mainstream success over three decades. Their sound spanned diverse genres including pop, disco, jazz, bebop, blues, soul, funk, dance, country and rock.

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Born June Antoinette Pointer, she was the youngest of six to minister parents Reverend Elton and Sarah Pointer. Early on, June shared a love for singing with her sisters. In 1969, she and sister Bonnie founded The Pointers - A Pair. The duo became a trio later on that year when Anita quit her job as a secretary to join them; the group changed its name to The Pointer Sisters.

After failed singles with Atlantic Records, eldest sister Ruth was enlisted to join the group in 1972. The sisters then signed with Blue Thumb, and their careers finally began taking off.

Releasing their self-titled debut album in 1973, the Pointer Sisters found fame with pop hit singles such as "Yes We Can Can," the country hit, "Fairytale," and the R&B hits, "How Long (Betcha Got a Chick on the Side)" and "You Gotta Believe" before Bonnie exited from the group to forge a solo career in 1977.

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June suffered a stroke on February 27, 2006. While in the hospital, June was also diagnosed with cancer which had metastasized in her breast, colon, liver and bone.

June died at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California in the company of her older sisters and brothers: Ruth, Anita, Aaron, and Fritz.

The remaining sisters continued on as a trio and then found huge success, hitting the Top 10 with a cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Fire" in 1978, then following that with "He's So Shy," and "Slow Hand." 

They then released what would be their biggest album to date, 1983's Break Out, which included the 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."

Other hits from follow up albums included "Dare Me" "Freedom" and "Goldmine."

June is notable for being the lead singer of "He's So Shy," "Jump (For My Love)," "Baby Come And Get It" and "Dare Me" among others. The group eventually would receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

During the 1980s, June ventured into a solo career, releasing albums in 1983 and 1989. She scored modest hits with "Ready For Some Action" (1983) and 1989's "Tight On Time (I'll Fit U In)." She also performed the song "Little Boy Sweet" for the 1983 film National Lampoon's Vacation.

Together with Bruce Willis she scored a top 5 pop single in 1987 with a cover of the Staples Singers' "Respect Yourself." June also gained some notoriety for posing for Playboy magazine in the 80's.

Struggling with drug addiction for much of her career, June was ousted from the Pointer Sisters by 2004 as her sisters hoped and waited for her to become drug-free. Ruth's daughter filled in for June during stage performances.

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