June Pointer: 1953-2006
Sad news to report..
EURweb and others are reporting that June passed away yesterday April the 11th at the UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica, CA. She was 52 years old.
Things weren't looking good when her sisters had cancelled some of their appearances over the weekend, I guess now we know just how bad things were. In a way, it's not really shocking, after all, the chances for a full recovery from something like that (a heart attack + stroke) are probably slim, but still very sad to see it all end this way for June.. I suppose now the prospect for a complete Pointer Sisters reunion is off the table for good, but even beyond that, it's sad to know that she had passed away while going through what seemed to be a long, hard battle with substance abuse, especially in the past several years.
June is now front and centre on the Pointer Sisters' official site (remove exclamation point in new window). It seems they recently released an official statement and the news media are already picking it up (see the links below). Part of the release said: "[She died] in the arms of her sisters, Ruth and Anita and her brothers, Aaron and Fritz, by her side... Although her sister, Bonnie, was unable to be present, she was with her in spirit."
Earlier I posted about her suffering a heart attack and stroke, which was originally mentioned on the Pointer's official website, but the most recent news articles are reporting that she died of cancer, so the exact details are a little uncertain. Evidently, Michelle Visage from The Mix 102.7 FM in New York mentioned her cancer on
Listening to a Pointer Sisters record, June's voice was always identifiable. Her presence and her bright, gutsy and powerful voice were such a big part of the Pointer Sisters sound and image. It's no wonder, especially in the 80s, why their producer Richard Perry had used her quite often.. Her voice and presence had always conveyed a certain daring, free-spiritness about her.. My heart goes out to her sisters and the rest of her family during this time. I can imagine it's been a tough ride for them; fans can only know so much, but her friends and family have probably seen this all unfold like no one else has. At the very least, her spirit will live on in the great music that she was a part of. Rest in peace June.
Update 4/15/06: There are some newer articles and obituaries popping up with some words from her family. The San Francisco Chronicle's obituary has some revealing comments from older brother Fritz Pointer. Also, Starpulse has an article about June's last days, with comments from her sister Bonnie (which seem to support what Michelle Visage and Wendy Williams had reported). Links added to those articles and others below under "new articles."
PREVIOUS RELATED ENTRIES:
DISCO DELIVERY: JUNE POINTER OF THE POINTER SISTERS SUFFERS STROKE (MARCH 23, 2006)
LINKS:
THE POINTER SISTERS' OFFICIAL GUESTBOOK
SOULFUL DETROIT: JUNE POINTER R.I.P.
SOULFUL DETROIT: JUNE POINTER IN THE HOSPITAL
JUNE POINTER INTERVIEW (1996)
THE POINTER SISTERS @ WIKIPEDIA
NEW ARTICLES (APRIL 13, 2006):
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE OBITUARY: JUNE POINTER - YOUNGEST SISTER IN FAMED OAKLAND SINGING GROUP
STARPULSE: JUNE POINTER'S FINAL DAYS WERE PAINFUL, SAYS SISTER
247GAY.COM: JUNE POINTER DEAD IN LOS ANGELES AT 52
EURWEB: JUNE POINTER DIED IN HER SISTERS' ARMS
ARTICLES:
USA TODAY - JUNE POINTER OF THE POINTER SISTERS DIES (APRIL 12, 2006)
E! ONLINE: TROUBLED POINTER SISTER DIES (APRIL 12, 2006)
GOOGLE NEWS: JUNE POINTER
GOOGLE BLOG SEARCH: JUNE POINTER
CATEGORIES: IN MEMORIAM.., WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO..
