Bonnie Pointer, Founding Member Of The Pointer Sisters, Dead At 69

LOS ANGELES (CBSNEWS.COM) - Bonnie Pointer, who in 1969 convinced three of her church-singing siblings to form the Pointer Sisters, which would become one of the biggest acts of the next two decades, died Monday. She was 69.

The Grammy winner died of cardiac arrest in Los Angeles, publicist Roger Neal said.

Bonnie Pointer often sang lead and was an essential member of the group through its early hits including "Yes We Can Can" and "Fairytale." She would leave for a short and modest solo career in 1977 as her sisters went on to have several mega-hits without her.

Ruth, Anita, Bonnie and June, born the daughters of a minister who also had two older sons, grew up singing in his church in Oakland, California.

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