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{{Use American English|date=July 2023}}
'''Ruth Pointer-Sayles''' (born [[March 19]], [[1946]] in [[Oakland, California]]) is an [[United States|American]] [[R&B]] singer, best known for being the eldest member of the legendary sister group, [[The Pointer Sisters]].
{{short description|American singer (born 1946)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Ruth Pointer
| image = Ruth Pointer Komen Pink Tie Ball 2006.jpg
| caption = Pointer performing with The Pointer Sisters at the Komen Center Pink Tie Ball in 2006
| birth_name = Ruth Esther Pointer
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1946|3|19}}
| birth_place = [[Oakland, California]], U.S.
| death_date =
| genre = {{hlist|[[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]|[[Pop music|pop]]|[[Soul music|soul]]|[[funk]]|[[jazz]]|[[Electronic dance music|dance]]}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter}}
| years_active = 1966–present
⚫
| current_member_of = [[The Pointer Sisters]]
| website = {{URL|thepointersisters.com/ruth.html}}
}}
'''Ruth Esther Pointer''' (born March 19, 1946)<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1255804/the-Pointer-Sisters |encyclopedia= Encyclopædia Britannica |title= the Pointer Sisters |access-date= July 25, 2014}}</ref> is an American singer best known as the eldest and last surviving original member of the family vocal group [[the Pointer Sisters]].


==Biography==
== Career ==
⚫
Joining her sisters in 1972, the Pointer Sisters released their first album in 1973. The group eventually found fame with songs like "[[Yes We Can Can]]" (1973), their [[Country music|country]] crossover hit, "[[Fairytale (Pointer Sisters song)|Fairytale]]" (1974) and "[[How Long (Betcha Got a Chick on the Side)]]" before Bonnie's exit in 1977. Continuing as a trio, the group found their biggest success covering tunes of rock, pop and [[New wave music|new wave]] with singles such as "[[Fire (Bruce Springsteen song)|Fire]]" (1978), "[[He's So Shy]]" (1980), and "[[Slow Hand]]" (1981).
⚫
===Early life===
Ruth Pointer began her vocal training as a director of a junior choir in her father's church. Marrying right after high school and having two children Faun and Malik, Ruth was eventually convinced by her sisters to join their family group, '''The Pointer Sisters''' in December, 1972.


The group found its biggest success with the release of the ''[[Break Out (Pointer Sisters album)|Break Out]]'' album in 1983 which featured hits such as "Automatic", "Jump (For My Love)", a re-released version of "[[I'm So Excited]]", "Neutron Dance", and "Baby Come And Get It". It's notable for featuring Ruth's lead vocals on "[[Automatic (Pointer Sisters song)|Automatic]]" and "[[Neutron Dance (song)|Neutron Dance]]", which hit the top ten of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 Chart and led to the group winning two [[Grammy Awards]]. In 1988, Pointer along with [[Billy Vera]] provided vocals for the song "Enemies Like You and Me" from the soundtrack to ''[[Iron Eagle II]]''. That same year, Pointer also provided the singing voice of the character Rita in the [[Disney]] film ''[[Oliver & Company]]'', where she sang the song "Streets of Gold" as well as a reprise of the song "Why Should I Worry" with fellow cast member [[Billy Joel]]. The Pointer Sisters were joined by Ruth's daughter [[Issa Pointer|Issa]] in the 1990s. The group was given a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] in 1994.
⚫
===The Pointer Sisters===
⚫
{{main|The Pointer Sisters}}
⚫
Joining her sisters in [[1972]], the Pointer Sisters released their first album in [[1973]]. The group eventually found fame with songs like "[[Yes We Can Can]]" ([[1973]]), their [[country]] crossover hit, "[[Fairytale (song)|Fairytale]]" ([[1974]]) and "[[How Long (Betcha Got a Chick on the Side)]]" before Bonnie's exit in [[1977]]. Continuing as a trio, the group found their biggest success covering tunes of [[Rock music|rock]], [[Pop music|pop]] and [[New Wave music|New Wave]] with singles such as "[[Fire (Bruce Springsteen song)|Fire]]" ([[1978]]), "[[He's So Shy]]" ([[1980]]), and "[[Slow Hand]]" ([[1981]]). The group found its biggest success with the release of the ''[[Break Out (Pointer Sisters album)|Break Out]]'' album in [[1983]] which featured hits such as "Automatic", "Jump (For My Love)", a re-released version of "[[I'm So Excited]]", "Neutron Dance", and "Baby Come And Get It". It's notable for featuring Ruth's lead vocals on "[[Automatic (Pointer Sisters song)|Automatic]]" and "[[Neutron Dance (song)|Neutron Dance]]", which hit the top ten of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 Chart and led to the group winning two [[Grammy Awards]]. Ruth is still a member of the Pointer Sisters along with Anita and Ruth's daughter [[Issa Pointer|Issa]]. The group was given a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] in [[1993]].


In October 2021, Pointer competed in [[The Masked Singer (American TV series) season 6|season six]] of ''[[The Masked Singer (American TV series)|The Masked Singer]]'' as "Cupcake".<ref name="Masked Singer">{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2021/10/13/the-masked-singer-recap-cupcake-eliminated-ruth-pointer-caterpillar-wildcard/8435070002/|title='Masked Singer': Cupcake is iced out; wildcard Caterpillar gives 'front-runner performance'|first=Erin|last=Jensen|website=USA TODAY}}</ref> Pointer revealed upon her unmasking that she was supposed to perform on the show as part of a duo with her sister Anita in a duplicated and recolored Cupcake costume. Anita was dealing with an illness, forcing Ruth to perform alone.<ref name="Masked Singer" />
===Personal life===
Ruth Pointer is a mother of five with children Faun (Born 1965), Malik (Born 1966), Issa (January 22nd 1978),and twins Ali and Conor (born August, 1993) from her current husband Michael Sayles (born 1957), whom she married in [[September 8,1990]].{{Fact|date=June 2008}} She and her husband and their children currently reside in Hopedale, [[Massachusetts]].{{Fact|date=June 2008}} She is also a grandmother. Sadako Pointer (a model) is her second granddaughter and resides in [[New York City]].{{Fact|date=June 2008}}


With the deaths of [[Bonnie Pointer|Bonnie]] and [[Anita Pointer]] in 2020 and 2022 respectively, Ruth Pointer is the last surviving founding member of The Pointer Sisters.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-01 |title=The Pointer Sisters singer Anita Pointer dies aged 74 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/anita-pointer-sisters-death-cause-b2254230.html |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>
Ruth's daughter Issa is from former Temptations memeber [[Dennis Edwards]]


⚫
== Personal life ==
⚫
==External links==
Pointer has been married five times and has five children. The eldest are a daughter Faun (born 1965) and a son Malik (born 1966).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20077955,00.html |work= People |title=Pointer Sistres |date=November 24, 1980 |access-date= July 25, 2014}}</ref> Malik is a singer.<ref>[http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=23230959&albumID=177397&imageID=55148690 Viewmorepics.myspace.com] [https://web.archive.org/web/20090614051351/http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage Archived copy] at [[WebCite]] (June 12, 2009).</ref> Her daughter [[Issa Pointer]] (born 1978), is from a marriage with former [[The Temptations|Temptations]] member [[Dennis Edwards]]. They married on December 21, 1980 in Las Vegas, and divorced in 1983.<ref name="Ruth">{{cite book |last1=Pointer |first1=Ruth |title=Still So Excited!: My Life as a Pointer Sister |date=2016 |publisher=Triumph Books}}</ref> In 1984, Pointer married noted bassist Don Boyette, divorcing in 1988.
*Pointer Sisters fan page on Bebo: http://www.bebo.com/thepointersisters

She has three grandchildren, and one great-grandchild as of 2016.<ref name="Ruth"/>

Pointer married Michael Sayles in 1990 and, at the age of 47 in 1993, she gave birth to twins, a boy named Conor and a girl named Ali.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1993/07/21/singer-ruth-pointer-gives-birth-to-twins/ |work=Orlando Sentinel |title=Singer Ruth Pointer gives birth to twins |date=July 21, 1993 |access-date=July 25, 2014}}</ref> Both Issa Pointer and Ruth's granddaughter [[Sadako Pointer]] (born 1984) have performed as members of the Pointer Sisters.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thepointersisters.com/group-bio-extended.html |work= The Pointer Sisters official website |title=Biography |access-date=July 25, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15817600 |publisher= BBC News |title=Bonnie Pointer arrested |date=November 21, 2011 |access-date=July 25, 2014}}</ref> Pointer resides in Hopedale, [[Massachusetts]] with her husband.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thepointersisters.com/ruth.html|work= The Pointer Sisters official website |title=Ruth Pointer Biography|access-date=January 15, 2024 }}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

⚫
== External links ==
*{{Discogs artist}}
*{{IBDB name|511634}}

⚫
{{The Pointer Sisters}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Pointer, Ruth}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pointer, Ruth}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Pointer Sisters members]]
[[Category:The Pointer Sisters members]]
[[Category:African American singers]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American women singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American women singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:American contraltos]]
[[Category:American women singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American rhythm and blues singers]]
[[Category:American rhythm and blues singers]]
[[Category:People from Oakland, California]]
[[Category:Singers from Oakland, California]]
[[Category:California musicians]]
[[Category:Pointer family (show business)|Ruth]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from California]]

[[Category:African-American songwriters]]
[[es:Ruth Pointer]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American musicians]]
[[fr:Ruth Pointer]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American women]]

Latest revision as of 03:35, 12 November 2024

Ruth Pointer
Pointer performing with The Pointer Sisters at the Komen Center Pink Tie Ball in 2006
Pointer performing with The Pointer Sisters at the Komen Center Pink Tie Ball in 2006
Background information
Birth nameRuth Esther Pointer
Born (1946-03-19) March 19, 1946 (age 78)
Oakland, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active1966–present
Member ofThe Pointer Sisters
Websitethepointersisters.com/ruth.html

Ruth Esther Pointer (born March 19, 1946)[1] is an American singer best known as the eldest and last surviving original member of the family vocal group the Pointer Sisters.

Career

[edit]

Joining her sisters in 1972, the Pointer Sisters released their first album in 1973. The group eventually found fame with songs like "Yes We Can Can" (1973), their country crossover hit, "Fairytale" (1974) and "How Long (Betcha Got a Chick on the Side)" before Bonnie's exit in 1977. Continuing as a trio, the group found their biggest success covering tunes of rock, pop and new wave with singles such as "Fire" (1978), "He's So Shy" (1980), and "Slow Hand" (1981).

The group found its biggest success with the release of the Break Out album in 1983 which featured hits such as "Automatic", "Jump (For My Love)", a re-released version of "I'm So Excited", "Neutron Dance", and "Baby Come And Get It". It's notable for featuring Ruth's lead vocals on "Automatic" and "Neutron Dance", which hit the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 Chart and led to the group winning two Grammy Awards. In 1988, Pointer along with Billy Vera provided vocals for the song "Enemies Like You and Me" from the soundtrack to Iron Eagle II. That same year, Pointer also provided the singing voice of the character Rita in the Disney film Oliver & Company, where she sang the song "Streets of Gold" as well as a reprise of the song "Why Should I Worry" with fellow cast member Billy Joel. The Pointer Sisters were joined by Ruth's daughter Issa in the 1990s. The group was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994.

In October 2021, Pointer competed in season six of The Masked Singer as "Cupcake".[2] Pointer revealed upon her unmasking that she was supposed to perform on the show as part of a duo with her sister Anita in a duplicated and recolored Cupcake costume. Anita was dealing with an illness, forcing Ruth to perform alone.[2]

With the deaths of Bonnie and Anita Pointer in 2020 and 2022 respectively, Ruth Pointer is the last surviving founding member of The Pointer Sisters.[3]

Personal life

[edit]

Pointer has been married five times and has five children. The eldest are a daughter Faun (born 1965) and a son Malik (born 1966).[4] Malik is a singer.[5] Her daughter Issa Pointer (born 1978), is from a marriage with former Temptations member Dennis Edwards. They married on December 21, 1980 in Las Vegas, and divorced in 1983.[6] In 1984, Pointer married noted bassist Don Boyette, divorcing in 1988.

She has three grandchildren, and one great-grandchild as of 2016.[6]

Pointer married Michael Sayles in 1990 and, at the age of 47 in 1993, she gave birth to twins, a boy named Conor and a girl named Ali.[7] Both Issa Pointer and Ruth's granddaughter Sadako Pointer (born 1984) have performed as members of the Pointer Sisters.[8][9] Pointer resides in Hopedale, Massachusetts with her husband.[10]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "the Pointer Sisters". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Jensen, Erin. "'Masked Singer': Cupcake is iced out; wildcard Caterpillar gives 'front-runner performance'". USA TODAY.
  3. ^ "The Pointer Sisters singer Anita Pointer dies aged 74". The Independent. January 1, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  4. ^ "Pointer Sistres". People. November 24, 1980. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  5. ^ Viewmorepics.myspace.com Archived copy at WebCite (June 12, 2009).
  6. ^ a b Pointer, Ruth (2016). Still So Excited!: My Life as a Pointer Sister. Triumph Books.
  7. ^ "Singer Ruth Pointer gives birth to twins". Orlando Sentinel. July 21, 1993. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  8. ^ "Biography". The Pointer Sisters official website. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  9. ^ "Bonnie Pointer arrested". BBC News. November 21, 2011. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  10. ^ "Ruth Pointer Biography". The Pointer Sisters official website. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
[edit]
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