This legendary performer knows how to put on a show, and living a healthy lifestyle plays a major role.
by Dan Carrison

The life of an entertainer has much in common with that of a professional athlete. In either case, reward depends upon a curious mixture of self-assertion and self-sacrifice. Both professionals are, in every respect, performers who must take command when their moment arrives, but who must also surrender to a schedule that threatens to drain the very energy they are expected to deliver. It’s not easy. So why do they do it?

For Anita Pointer and the Pointer Sisters, the answer is simple: “Love!” she exclaims. “In what other profession do so many people show their love for you and what you’re doing? It’s worth all the travel and all the hassle because the love of an audience can really be very humbling and very wonderful.”

Anita is just as grateful for the quieter displays of affection. “We were doing a world tour based on the Fats Waller musical Ain’t Misbehavin’. One night, we performed for an elderly audience, which remained seated before us and didn’t—and couldn’t—whistle and stomp. But the love emanated from them as clearly and as strongly as from any audience of more excitable fans. It was very moving.”

The Pointer Sisters have been feeling the love, and returning it, since childhood. With parents in the ministry, sisters Ruth, Anita, Bonnie, and June began pleasing congregations early on, singing gospel music with a joyful exuberance that would characterize their later performances. Bonnie and June were the first to go professional, as a duo; they were soon joined by Anita and became the Pointer Sisters in 1971. A couple of years later, Ruth joined the group, and the quartet of beautiful, talented sisters began making unforgettable music history.

In 1974, the group recorded two gold albums (albums selling over 500,000 copies). In 1975, they won their first Grammy. In 1978, the Pointer Sisters, by this time a trio (Ruth, Anita, and June), released their hit single “Fire,” which soared to the top of the pop charts. In 1980, the album He’s So Shy, as well as the titular track from that record, went gold. The following year, “Slow Hand” became a gold single and was followed by another gold album, Black & White.

The trio added two more Grammys to their collection as well as two American Music Awards in 1985, all while their best-selling album, Break Out, sold over 3 million copies! This album features the smash hits “Jump (For My Love)” and “I’m So Excited.” From then on, this remarkable team—now comprised of Anita, Ruth, and Ruth’s beautiful daughter, Issa—continued to appear on stages around the world before throngs of adoring fans.

All the World’s a Stage
“We went to Belgium contracted to do three shows,” explains Anita, “and ended up doing 10!” As if that weren’t enough pressure, the Pointer Sisters had previously committed to doing a television show in Paris. “We hopped on a train, did the show, then hurried back to Belgium,” laughs Anita. “It was pretty hectic!”

Europe is only one of the continents toured by this tireless trio. “One of our greatest trips,” recalls Anita, “was to Africa. We accompanied Muhammad Ali to Zaire for his championship fight with George Foreman. I’d never seen so many people: 300,000 strong. I visited villages there and ate dinner in huts. I spent the night on the Congo River and watched the sun rise and the fishermen going out in their tiny canoes.”

Anita remembers the first time they toured Egypt. “We got in late and went immediately to sleep. In the morning, I opened the window of my hotel room and standing there before me were the three pyramids! I was so astonished, I dropped to my knees and thanked God for giving us the chance to see the world, and to sing to the world.”

Intense Workout
“Not only do we dance and jump and kick as we sing, we’re d

By MARIO TARRADELL / The Dallas Morning News
mtarradell@dallasnews.com

Sometimes concerts don't need to be long-winded. In a short hour, backed by their band and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the enduring Pointer Sisters delivered a blast of a show Sunday afternoon at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center.

The gig was the last of a three-performance engagement that began Friday night. But if this was the finale, that opener must have been uncontainable.

The revamped sistahs include mainstays Ruth and Anita and third Pointer Issa, Ruth's daughter with former Temptations member Dennis Edwards. Issa replaces June Pointer, who died of lung cancer in 2006.

By the encore, 1984's "Jump (For My Love)," the house was jamming. Everybody was standing up, folks were dancing, clapping and the ambience was jubilant.

The Pointer Sisters always banked on feel-good music, whether it was of the pop-R&B variety or the occasional excursions into country and seductive balladry.

While the '70s and '80s remain the trio's heyday, nothing sounded dated. That's because they tackled well-written songs with plenty of rhythm, heart and groove.

Plus, Anita and Ruth looked fabulous. They looked just as good as Issa, who is easily 30 years their junior.

The voices haven't lost any shine, either. During "Slow Hand" clearly one of the sexiest ballads of the last three decades, Anita proved her vocals remain strong, penetrating. Ruth put plenty of soul into "Neutron Dance," the powder-keg hit that defined an era.

Issa got her turn in the spotlight during "Dare Me." Her rich, potent pipes served the slinky number well.

Issa was the one to watch while aunt Anita belted "I'm So Excited." The song, which was pure frenetic fun, prompted Issa to kick up her heels chorus-line style and wiggle her rear with frivolous abandon.

You couldn't help but get caught up in the infectious allure.

Finally, in an effort to remain hip, the Pointers refashioned their early '70s staple "Yes We Can Can" into an urbanized, bass-heavy manifesto featuring Anita rapping. It was way cool.

These women can still work it.

Don't Try To Take The Fifth / Tulsa County - Atlantic 2845 (12/71)
Destination No More Heartaches / Send Him Back - Atlantic 2893 (3/72)
Yes We Can Can (Edit) / Jada - Blue Thumb 229 (7/73)
Wang Dang Doodle (Edit) / Cloudburst - Blue Thumb 243 (12/73)
Steam Heat (Edit) / Shaky Flat Blues - Blue Thumb 248 (3/74)
Fairytale (Edit) / Love In Them There Hills (Edit) - Blue Thumb 254 (9/74)
Love In Them There Hills (Edit) / Fairytale (Edit) - ABC/Blue Thumb 254 (10/74)
Live Your Life Before You Die / Shaky Flat Blues - ABC/Blue Thumb 262 (2/75)
How Long (Betcha Got A Chick On The Side) (Edit) / Easy Days - ABC/Blue Thumb 265 (7/75)
Going Down Slowly (Edit) / Sleeping Alone (Edit) - ABC/Blue Thumb 268 (11/75)
You Gotta Believe (From "Car Wash") / Shaky Flat Blues - ABC/Blue Thumb 271 (11/76)
Having A Party (Edit) / Lonely Gal - ABC/Blue Thumb 275 (10/77)
I Need A Man (Edit) / I'll Get By Without You (Edit) - ABC/Blue Thumb 277 (12/77)
Fire / Love Is Like A Rolling Stone - Planet 45901 (10/7
Happiness / Lay It on The Line - Planet 45902 (3/79)
Blind Faith / The Shape I'm In - Planet 45906 (10/79)
Who Do You Love / Turned Up Too Late - Planet 45908 (11/79)
He's So Shy / Movin' On - Planet 47916 (7/80)
Es Tan Timido / Cosas Especiales - Planet 47918 (8/80)
Could I Be Dreaming / Evil - Planet 47920 (10/80)
Where Did The Time Go / Special Things - Planet 47925 (12/80)
Slow Hand / Holdin' Out For Love - Planet 47929 (5/81)
What A Surprise (Edit) / Fall In Love Again - Planet 47937 (9/81)
Sweet Lover Man / Got To Find Love - Planet 47945 (11/81)
Should I Do It / We're Gonna Make It - Planet 47960 (1/82)
American Music (Edit) / I Want To Do It With You - Planet 12354 (6/82)
I'm So Excited / Nothin' But A Heartache - Planet 13327 (9/82)
If You Wanna Get Back Your Lady (Remix) / All Of You - Planet 13430 (2/83)
I Need You (Remix) / Operater (Alternate Version) - Planet 13639 (9/83)
Automatic (Edit) / Nightline - Planet 13730 (1/84)
Jump (for my love) (Remix) / Heart Beat - Planet 13780 (4/84)
I'm So Excited (Remix) / Dance Electric - Planet 13857 (7/84)
Neutron Dance (Edit) (From "Beverly Hills Cop") / Telegraph Your Love - Planet 13951 (11/84)
Baby Come And Get It (Edit) / Operater - Planet 14041 (3/85)
Dare Me (Remix) / I'll Be There - RCA 14126 (6/85)
Freedom (Edit) / Telegraph Your Love - RCA 14224 (10/85)
Twist My Arm (Remix) / Easy Persuasion - RCA 14197 (2/86)
Goldmine / Sexual Power - RCA 5062 (10/86)
All I Know Is The Way I Feel (Remix) / Translation - RCA 5112 (2/87)
Mercury Rising (Remix) / Say The Word - RCA 5230 (5/87)
Be There (Remix) (From "Beverly Hills Cop II") / (Dub Version) - MCA 53120 (7/87)
He Turned Me Out (Edit) (From "Action Jackson") / Translation - RCA 6865 (1/8
I'm In Love (Edit) / Uh-Uh - RCA 8378 (5/8
Power Of Persuasion (From "Caddyshack II") / (Instrumental) - Columbia 08015 (11/8
Friends Advice (Don't Take It) (Remix) / (Dub) - Motown 1986 (5/90)
After You (Edit) / (no b-side) - Motown 2061 (8/90)
Insanity (Remix) / (no b-side) - Motown 2071 (10/90)
Don't Walk Away (Edit) / Tell It To My Heart - SBK 17637 (10/93)
Christmas In New York - YMC 00401 (Promo Single - 10/05)