Pointer Sisters

The Pointer Sisters was an American vocal group and recording act that achieved great success during the 1970s and 1980s.

Early Days

As children the girls were encouraged to sing gospel music by their parents Reverend Elton and Mrs Sarah Pointer, but in their household they were told rock and roll and the blues were "the devil's music", and it was only when they were away from their watchful parents that they could sing these styles of music. They regularly sang at the church but as they grew older their love of other styles of music began to grow. When June brought home a copy of the Elvis Presley record All Shook Up, she was surprised that her mother allowed her to play it, until she discovered that her mother had been pacified by the "B" side of record, "Crying In The Chapel".

Related Topics:
Gospel music - Rock and roll - The blues - Elvis Presley - All Shook Up

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After leaving school it was Bonnie who sought a show business career, and she convinced June to join her to form a duo, "The Pointers - A Pair". Shortly after this, Anita quit her job to join the group. They began touring and performing and provided backing vocals for such artists as Grace Slick, Boz Scaggs and Elvin Bishop, and it was while supporting Bishop at a nightclub appearance that the sisters were signed to a recording deal. The resulting single failed to win an audience but the sisters were enjoying themselves, and the temptation to join them finally overwhelmed Ruth. Before they began to record their first album, the trio had become a quartet.

Related Topics:
Grace Slick - Boz Scaggs - Elvin Bishop

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They agreed that they did not want to follow the current trend of pop music, but wanted to create an original sound that combined jazz, scat and be-bop music. In searching for a visual style they remembered the poverty of their childhood and their mother's ability to improvise, and used their experience to assemble a collection of vintage 1940s clothes from various thrift shops, that would comprise their costumes and give them the distinctive look they were searching for.

Related Topics:
Pop music - Jazz - Scat - Be-bop

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They made their debut performance at the Troubador nightclub in Los Angeles in May 1973 and the reaction from the crowd was enthusiastic. Shortly after they made their television debut on "The Helen Reddy Show".

Related Topics:
Troubador - Los Angeles - 1973 - Television - Helen Reddy

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