“Heaven Must Have Sent You:” Songs To Remember Bonnie Pointer By

Bonnie Pointer, disco queen, best known as a member of the R&B group The Pointer Sisters, died Monday morning, June 8. She was 69.

Although no official statement is available, a representative told Variety that it was cardiac arrest. Anita Pointer, Bonnie's older sister and third to join the band, confirmed her sister's passing in a statement.

"It is with great sadness that I have to announce to the fans of the Pointer Sisters that my sister Bonnie died this morning," Anita said. She added that the family and devastated, and they ask for prayers at this time.

Bonnie Pointer, born Patricia Eva Pointer, co-founded what became The Pointer Sisters with her sibling June. The duo later included older sisters Anita and Ruth. Bonnie left the quartet in 1978 to pursue a solo career. Below are some of Bonnie Pointer's most successful singles both with her sisters and with her solo career:

"Heaven Must Have Sent You" (1978)

Her disco cover of The Elgins' 1966 original track is widely regarded as her most successful track. The legendary Holland-Dozier-Holland songwriting trio created the song for the Motown group.

Bonnie Pointer's 1978 version, which first appeared in her self-titled album, also known as the "Red Album," reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

"Fairytale" (1974)

It was the founding members Anita and Bonnie Pointer that wrote this country hit together. The song, which illustrates leaving after enduring a one-sided relationship, is a hit for the original Pointer quartet. "

"Yes, I've been lost in a dream/ Pretending that you care/ But now I've opened up my eyes/ And found it's all been just a great big fairytale," Anita led with her siblings on backup vocals.

"I Can't Help Myself" (1980)

Motown group Four Tops first recorded another disco classic from the songwriting books of Holland-Dozier-Holland. The group released in 1965, topping Billboard's R&B charts and later, the Hot 100 on two separate weeks.

By 1980, Bonnie Pointer would return the 60s hit song to the disco rotations of the time. Although it only peaked at No. 40 on the Hot 100, it spent 13 weeks, and later reached No.4 on the dance charts.

"Free Me From My Freedom/ Tie Me To A Tree (Handcuff Me)" (1979)

The funky R&B rhythm mixed with Bonnie Pointer's sultry, soulful vocals made "Free Me From My Freedom," one of her most-renowned hits. Its original version also featured a bluegrass finger-picked solo after the second chorus using the banjo.

"Free Me" first broke through the top ten of Billboard's R&B charts, later reaching No. 58 at the February edition of the Hot 100,

"Premonition" (1984)

This fast-paced, pop-soul single was among Bonnie's enduring dance tracks. It was a cover of a Jack Wagnersingle from his debut album, "All I Need," released earlier in the same year.

Bonnie included it as a part of her 1984 album "If The Price Is Right." While it only peaked at No. 84 at the R&B charts, it was later remixed and played among the clubs at the time.

Tags

Motown, Songs