Ruth Pointer is still excited about singing

By John Benson

The Pointer sister enjoys her music career now more than ever.

Speechless and overwhelmed is what Ruth Pointer, founding member of the Pointer Sisters, said she felt when she learned her sibling trio was not only a 2005 inductee into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame, but a performer.

The ante has been upped as Pointer will sing alongside her heroes at the institution’s monumental four-day 10th anniversary induction concerts extravaganza Thursday through Nov. 9 at Chevrolet Centre in Youngstown. Pointer is scheduled to perform Saturday.

“It just sounds like a big party to me, really,” said Pointer, 62, calling from outside of Boston. “Many of these people — Martha Reeves, Sam and Dave — are artists that I listened to before I even got into the music business. At that time I had no notion of becoming a professional singer.

“I was singing around in my neighborhood at my dad’s church and really didn’t have too many thoughts about becoming a professional. So this is very special.”

Considering the Pointer Sisters had a hit more than 20 years ago with the song “I’m So Excited,” it’s pure writer’s gold that when describing the group’s career over the years, Pointer can’t use the word “excited” enough.

“I think I’m more excited at this point in my life than I was when I was much younger,” Pointer said. “I think people think about the fact that we are just regular hometown females that just like to have a good time on stage and we’re just gifted with the voices that we have.

“Our career has lasted because we’re still working on the road and people are just amazed when they come and have such a great time. I’m even amazed. Sometimes I feel like I should have been in the audience. I just get terribly excited.”

Formed over 35 years ago, The Pointer Sisters have enjoyed a unique and diverse career with 15 Top-40 singles and numerous gold and platinum albums.

While the act is known primarily for its R&B, pop, dance and rock sound, the Oakland, Calif., sister group even enjoyed unprecedented success in Nashville with its ’70s single “Fairytale,” which resulted in its appearance at the Grand Ole Opry.

The threesome was the first black trio to perform at the famed Music City venue.

While the group started out as sisters Anita Pointer, Ruth Pointer and Bonnie Pointer, the latter would leave for a solo career with June Pointer joining for the majority of the group’s successful years. That notoriety took place in the mid-1980s with hit singles “I’m So Excited,” “Jump (for My Love)” and “Neutron Dance.” The last song was on the “Beverly Hills Cop” soundtrack.

While June died of lung cancer two years ago, today’s incarnation of the Pointer Sisters include Ruth, Anita and Ruth’s daughter Issa. Even though Ruth Pointer will be without sister Anita, who has a previous Breast Cancer Awareness engagement in Las Vegas, for her Youngstown show, she promises audiences will get a glimpse of why the Pointer Sisters were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame at the upcoming induction Ceremony show.

“We still are very energetic, we still look good and we still sound incredible,” Ruth Pointer said. “I find that people who come to see us these days are very surprised. I think they come expecting to see an old girl group and they end up dancing in the aisles.”

She added, “And that’s a promise, honey.”