Anita Pointer of the Pointer Sisters dead at 74 - Reuters

Dec 31 (Reuters) - Anita Pointer, 1 of the Grammy-winning Pointer Sisters whose drawstring of pop, state and R&B hits successful the 1970s and '80s included "I'm So Excited," "Jump (For My Love)" and "Fire," died of crab connected Saturday astatine property 74, her publicist said.

Pointer was surrounded by household astatine her Beverly Hills location erstwhile she died, publicist Roger Neal said.

Anita was the 2nd oldest of 4 sisters who started performing arsenic the duo of June and Bonnie successful 1969 and soon became a trio erstwhile Anita discontinue her occupation arsenic a caput to articulation the group, according to an authoritative biography.

The Pointer Sisters aboriginal became a quartet for a portion with Ruth, the lone 1 of the archetypal singing sisters inactive alive, though Bonnie near the radical successful the precocious 1970s and they became a trio erstwhile again. The Pointer sisters besides person 2 surviving brothers, Fritz and Aaron.

Anita was preceded successful decease by her girl Jada, who died successful 2003, erstwhile Anita took implicit raising her granddaughter, Roxie McKain Pointer.

"While we are profoundly saddened by the nonaccomplishment of Anita, we are comforted successful knowing she is present with her girl Jada and her sisters June & Bonnie and astatine peace. She was the 1 that kept each of america adjacent and unneurotic for truthful long. Her emotion of our household volition unrecorded connected successful each of us," the household said successful a statement.

The sisters grew up singing successful the religion of their father, a preacher successful Oakland, California.

Their debut medium successful 1973 produced their archetypal deed azygous "Yes We Can Can."

Among their bigger hits were "Fire" successful 1978, "He's So Shy" successful 1980, "Slow Hand" successful 1981, and "Neutron Dance," "Automatic" and "Jump" successful 1983. "I'm So Excited" from 1982 remains a standard.

In caller years, the radical continued performing with Ruth singing on with her girl Issa and granddaughter Sadako.

Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Kim Coghill

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