In 1969, sisters Bonnie and June Pointer began performing as a duo. They called themselves "Pointers, a Pair." When Anita Pointer joined, they became "The Pointer Sisters." A fourth sister, Ruth, joined in 1972. The following year, the quartet released its self-titled debut album. The album's single "Yes We Can Can" became The Pointer Sisters' first single to land on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. June and Bonnie left in 1977. June returned the following year. As a trio, Anita, Ruth, and June released eleven more albums. The band's fifteenth and final album "Only Sisters Can Do That" was released in 1993. In 2002, June was replaced by her daughter Issa. Four years later, June passed away after a stroke. In 2009, Ruth's granddaughter Sadako joined the band with Issa leaving temporarily to pursue a solo career. She returned in 2011, and the band continued on as a quartet. In 2015, Anita departed the band, dying of cancer on New Year's Eve 2022. The band continues performing as a trio.