Ruth Pointer

{{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|R&B|pop|soul|funk|jazz|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){{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}} is an American singer best known as the eldest and last surviving original member of the family vocal group the Pointer Sisters.

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 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".{{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}} 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.

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.{{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}}

Personal life

Pointer has been married five times and has five children. The eldest are a daughter Faun (born 1965) and a son Malik (born 1966).{{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}} Malik is a singer.[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). 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.{{cite book |last1=Pointer |first1=Ruth |title=Still So Excited!: My Life as a Pointer Sister |date=2016 |publisher=Triumph Books}} In 1984, Pointer married noted bassist Don Boyette, divorcing in 1988.

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

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.{{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}} Both Issa Pointer and Ruth's granddaughter Sadako Pointer (born 1984) have performed as members of the Pointer Sisters.{{cite web |url=https://thepointersisters.com/group-bio-extended.html |work= The Pointer Sisters official website |title=Biography |access-date=July 25, 2014 }}{{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}} Pointer resides in Hopedale, Massachusetts with her husband.{{cite web|url=https://thepointersisters.com/ruth.html|work= The Pointer Sisters official website |title=Ruth Pointer Biography|access-date=January 15, 2024 }}