Ruth Pointer’s deep and soulful voice turned out to be the missing ingredient when the fabulous Pointer..
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Ruth Pointer
Award Winning Entertainer & Mental Health Advocate
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Ruth Pointer’s deep and soulful voice turned out to be the missing ingredient when the fabulous Pointer Sisters went from a trio to a quartet in late 1972. Six months later, they were a household name, selling millions of records, tons of concert tickets and were at the start of their storybook career, eventually becoming one of the most successful female acts of all-time.
When overnight success came, the four sisters from Oakland all thought it was the answer to their long-held prayers. Widely known for their 15 Top 40 hits, “Yes We Can Can,” “Fairytale,” “Fire,” “He’s So Shy,” “Slow Hand,” “I’m So Excited,” “Jump,” “Automatic” and “Neutron Dance,” the Pointer Sisters were pioneers on several fronts: they created a fashion craze with their World War II retro-chic wardrobe in the early 1970s; were one of the first black artists to appear on MTV in the early 1980s and reinvented themselves as touring Broadway artists in Fats Waller’s Ain’t Misbehavin’ in the 1990s. The group was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994.
While success may have served as an introduction to the good life, it also was an introduction to the “high life.” Limos, champagne, white glove treatment, mountains of cocaine and crack were the norm in the high flying ‘70s and ‘80s. Ruth Pointer’s devastating addictions took her to the brink of death in 1984, so much so that a powerful record executive took out a full-page obituary for Pointer in an industry trade magazine just in case she didn’t make it. However, through a rigorous 12-step program, daily inventory of her life and her supreme faith in God, Pointer has bounced back to live a drug and alcohol free life for the past 30 years.
Aside from her phenomenal success as a member of the multi-Grammy-winning Pointer Sisters, Ruth Pointer has occasionally stepped out on her own as a solo artist. She contributed the single “Streets of Gold” in 1989 to Disney’s Oliver & Company soundtrack. “Enemies Like You And Me,” a duet with Billy Vera can be found on the Iron Eagle II soundtrack. Background vocals by Pointer can be heard on Celine Dion’s Unison album (1990), June Pointer’s two solo albums, Baby Sister (1983) and June Pointer (1989), and Bruce Willis’ The Return of Bruno (1987).
As an international spokesperson for the USO in the early 1990s, Pointer has often traveled overseas to perform for our troops in locations such as: Budapest, Hungary, Bosnia, Bahrain and Italy. Ruth Pointer’s heartfelt memoir, Still So Excited!: My Life as a Pointer Sister (Triumph Books, 2016) will coincide with her headlining appearances at Arizona State University’s Project Humanities, where she will speak about her rock, recovery and redemption.
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Topics
Topics
Through the Fire: My Journey from Addiction to Recovery
I’m So Excited: How Faith Will See You Through
The Shifting Shape of Show Business — Not All Silver Linings
Videos
Videos
Ruth Pointer Speaks on Overcoming Addiction, Late Friend Natalie Cole & New Book | Sway's Universe
Ruth Pointer on The Pointer Sisters (Apollo Theater Soundstage)
Books
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