Bonnie Pointer, of the Pointer Sisters, passed away at 69 this week. Here is a look at her life. 

  • 1. Bonnie Pointer was considered the rebellious one of the Pointer Sisters and was revered for her instincts in music. 
    Photo Credit: Echoes

  • 2. Bonnie and her sister June used to perform covers in clubs and church choirs. Anita, the elder sister, saw them sing and quit her legal secretary job to join them. 
    Photo Credit: Michael Ochs Archives

  • 3. Nina Simone, Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, and Etta James were their only source of non-Christian music and the sisters snuck around to listen to them. As their father was a priest in an Oakland church, they only listened to Christian music. 
    Photo Credit: Harry Langdon

  • 4. Anita, Bonnie, and June as a trio performed backup gigs for Grace Slick, Sylvester, Boz Scaggs and Elvin Bishop. 
    Photo Credit: Images Press

  • 5. Her older sister, Anita Pointer, said this about Bonnie upon her passing away: "Bonnie was my best friend and we talked every day; we never had a fight in our life. I already miss her, and I will see her again one day."
    Photo Credit: Soul Train

  • 6. Bonnie Pointer resisted being boxed. She once said, "I'm the kind of person who likes to do adventurous, new things – it's got to be a challenge for me to go forward, because I don't like to be stuck into just one thing."
    Photo Credit: Michael Tullberg

  • 7. Finally, the last Pointer sister, Ruth joined the group and things just got better and exciting for The Pointer Sisters. 
    Photo Credit: Gabriel Olsen

  • 8. That's A Plenty finally won them their first Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Group.
    Photo Credit: Leon Bennett

  • 9. Bonnie Pointer left the group in 1977. Her biggest solo success is a song that has been remixed so much ever since -- "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)"
    Photo Credit: Leon Bennett

By: Nupur Saraswat