Bonnie Pointer of The Pointer Sisters dead at 69

Bonnie Pointer, a member of R&B group The Pointer Sisters, is dead at the age of 69. The singer died Monday at her home in Los Angeles of cardiac arrest.

"It is with great sadness that I have to announce to the fans of The Pointer Sisters that my sister, Bonnie, died this morning," Bonnie's sister and former bandmate Anita said in a statement to USA TODAY provided by representative Roger Neal. Anita said "our family is devastated" and asked for "prayers at this time" on behalf of the Pointer family.

“Bonnie was my best friend and we talked every day. We never had a fight in our life, I already miss her and I will see her again one day,” she said.

The four Pointer sisters, Ruth, Anita, Bonnie and June, grew up singing in church in Oakland, California, where their father was a minister. It was Bonnie, shortly after graduating high school, who first wanted to move out of church and into clubs to pursue a professional singing career.

She convinced younger sister June to join her, and the two began doing gigs together as a duo in 1969. Eventually they’d convince their two older sisters, who were already married with children, to join them.