- published: 31 May 2014
- views: 53297
The Pointer Sisters are an American R&B recording act from Oakland, California that achieved mainstream success during the 1970s and 1980s. Spanning over three decades, their repertoire has included such diverse genres as pop, disco, jazz, bebop, blues, soul, funk, dance, country and rock.
The group had its early origins when sisters June and Bonnie Pointer began performing in clubs in 1969 as "Pointers, a Pair". The line-up grew to a trio when sister Anita Pointer joined them. They scored a record deal with Atlantic Records and released several unsuccessful singles. The trio grew to a quartet when sister Ruth joined in December 1972. They then signed with Blue Thumb Records, recorded their debut album, and began seeing more success. The group achieved its greatest commercial success as a trio during the 1980s consisting of the line-up of June, Ruth, and Anita. Bonnie had left the group in 1978 to commence a solo career with only modest success.
As children in West Oakland, California, the Pointer sisters and brothers were encouraged to listen to and sing gospel music by their parents Reverend Elton and Mrs Sarah Pointer. However, 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. They regularly sang at the Church Of God (Anderson, IN) in West Oakland, but as the sisters grew older their love of other styles of music began to grow. When June, the youngest sister, brought home a copy of the Elvis Presley record All Shook Up, she was surprised that her mother allowed her to play it, until discovering that her mother had been pacified by the song "Crying in the Chapel" on the "B" side of the record.
Well, the rock still rolls
The beat goes on after all of this time
The faces change but the song's the same
So roll over Mister Dylan for the next in line
They want American music for drivin' with the radio
She said, I know that I would be alright
If I could just make somebody my baby tonight
American music for dancin' with the stereo
Oh do what you like feel what you feel
The music is right
Well, it almost feels real American
From the purple peaks to the city streets
People searching for the rock and roll scene
The power of the pounding beat
The magic in the dream
They want American music for travelin' with the radio
She said, I know that I would be alright
If I could just make somebody my baby tonight
American music for dancin' with the stereo
Oh do what you like feel what you feel
The music is right
Well, it almost feels real American
Just when you think that you've heard enough
Well, somebody say turn it up