When the publisher of GBMNews.com telephoned to ask me to do an interview on Ms. Bonnie Pointer, for a brief moment I thought, "what questions could I ask?" Almost everything is public record, the truths and the lies. The highs and the lows of this sister group, the horse was already out of the barn, "what could I add to their history of record?" Then I remembered the first time I heard them, it was in 1973.

I was in my mother's bedroom, my mother and I were talking about something and listening to the radio. All of a sudden, we heard this funky, unique New Orleans bass beat. We looked at each other in wonderment. I spent a lot of my free time in the record stores, reading liner notes etc., and for some reason, I knew immediately who was singing. I told my mother, "It must be the Pointer Sisters!" And, indeed, I was right! From the bass line, Anita started to sing, and Ruth, Bonnie and June followed, the harmony was out of this world as they sang, "Yes We Can Can." The sound was something new, yet something old. Blue Thumb Records had a winner. The album cover had the four sisters dressed in old, antique clothing. They were in their late teens, early 20's, yet the album cover photo could have been taken in the 1940's. This first album is certified gold.

The second album, "That's a Plenty" is also certified gold. Each sister could and did sing lead. "Live at the San Francisco Opera House made them the first contemporary act to every perform there, and another first is that the sisters are the first Afro-American female group to ever receive a Grammy for a country song, written by Anita and Bonnie Pointer.

Ruth, Anita, Bonnie and June were not finished with being a first of everything they touched, the performance at the Grand Ole Opry awarded them with this honor as well. The sisters could sing and have sang any and everything, from jazz to blues to gospel to rock to soul. "How Long (Betcha Got A Chick On the Side)", made the R&B charts. This was a time when there was black radio and white radio, music wasn't just music. The sisters would not be pinned down to any one style of music and should be given credit for one of the groups that made the records companies realize that the new breed of singing would not be boxed in. Yes, the Pointers Sisters should be thanked for they part in this revolution.

But like in most groups, there's always one that stands out. This is not to say that the others are not as talented or beautiful, as the case was, however, the public was drawn into the magic of Bonnie Pointer.

Bonnie wanted to record a solo album, things were changing for music and for the Pointer Sisters. Disco was blazing it's way into the hearts of a new, young, hip generation. The Pointer Sisters continued to record with much success, after Bonnie left to record her smash Red album which featured: "Free Me From My Freedom" & "Heaven Must Have Sent You." which was produced by Mr. Berry Gordy and Jeffrey Bowen. The second album, the Lavender cover, brought the hit, "I Can't Help Myself", the Four Tops classic.

After leaving Motown Records to Private I Records, Ms. Pointer, again, surprised her fans with a sexy, hot red "nighty", that would make any Victoria Secrets model jealous. This Red & Lavender album, released club hits, "Your Touch" and "If The Price Is Right." This lady had done it again.

Now more than a few years later, we are witnessing the return of the Diva, Ms. Bonnie Pointer.

On March 2. 2008, this would be the day, that I'd speak with Ms. Bonnie Pointer of the Famous Pointer Sisters. The time would be at 3:00 pm her time in the west coast and 7:00 pm my time, here in Charlotte, North Carolina.

I'd practiced on how to do the Conference Call through one of the free services that the publisher, Ralph, of GBMNews.com, told me about, everything should work out fine.

At 6:55 pm I sat down at my dining room table and waited, trying to relax, placing my question sheet on the table to my right, and the instructions for Conference Recording on my left. Within seconds, I was already waiting as host for my conference call with Ms. Bonnie Pointer, it was show time. 7:00 pm.

At 7:01 pm, Amelia, Bonnie's assistance entered (by telephone) the conference area informing me that Ms. Pointer was ready to speak with me.

Bonnie: Hello. (Very warm, comfortable, sincere, friendly)

John: Hello Ms. Pointer, thank you for taking out the time to speak with me. (suddenly feeling a little less nervous, but still shaking somewhat.)
Bonnie: No problem. (laughing)

John: I've been a fan of yours like forever. (Laughing)
Bonnie:Oh, thank you John. (probably smiling, almost giggling)

John: I have a list of questions that I would like to ask you.
Bonnie: Oh, ok, shoot.

John: How long have you been in the music business?
Bonnie: For almost 40 years, I ran away from home when I was 13. As a child I always loved to play dress up, loved to entertain.

John: As far as siblings, which number are you?
Bonnie: Number five. We grew up in a strict household, both parents
were ministers.

John: It's been quoted that your mother said, " (Bonnie) she has always told me, Mother, I want something for myself; I want to be somebody in this world.", do you feel that you have accomplished this?
Bonnie: Yes, I have. There were times when we had trouble, financially, I wanted to go out and make something of myself. First I left, then June came with me. We were called, "Pointer A Pair." Then Anita and Ruth came, she was a switch board operator.

John: Was this why you left the Pointer Sisters?
Bonnie: I really wanted to try something different. I wasn't offered the option to do something solo and stay in the group.

Then Ms. Pointer & I were suddenly disconnected. I called back and Amelia apologized and said that she would call me from a different telephone. I remained in the conference center, waiting, which was about 2 seconds, but it felt like forever. Amelia re-introduced herself and then gave the telephone to Bonnie. We continued our conversation.

John: You said that you were not allowed to remain in the group and also record solo. Wow, you answered one of my other questions already. But June recorded two albums and Anita did one.
Bonnie: Yeah, but I wasn't given that offer. (Sounding sad)

John: Family groups like the Jackson's and Osmond's its been rumored for years, to the delight of their fans that a reunion is possible. Do you think that there will be a Pointer Sisters reunion?
Bonnie: I've been trying to arrange that for 10 years already. I really want to do that. I love my sisters. (You could feel the love when she answered.)

John: What was it like to hear your music, as a group on the radio?
Bonnie: It was exciting, nothing like it! We turned up the car radio loud so everybody could hear it!! (reliving the moment)

John: How did that compared to your solo projects?
Bonnie: Exciting. Just as exciting! (Laughing) I love being out there on the stage, love to have people watching. Always have.

John: What was it like, you and June performing in adults settings?
Bonnie: It was fun. To protect ourselves, we would pretend that we had lice, scratching ourselves, so they (men) wouldn't bother us! (laughing at the memory) We opened for Esther Phillips. (Then Bonnie started to sing just like Esther Phillips, you would have thought that Esther was part of our conference call. Wonderful!)

John: Funny you mentioned Esther Phillips, I was playing her earlier after I listened to some of your music, like "What You Gonna Do When I'm Gone" I like Brenda Holloway's (the original artist & composer of this song), but I love yours, when I brought your album I couldn't get pass the first song.(which was "When I'm Gone")
Bonnie: Oh, thank you. (Then she started to sing, "When I'm Gone.")

John: (Inside my brain I was screaming, I can't believe that Bonnie Pointer is singing, "When I'm Gone."- to me, then we continued)
Bonnie: We opened for James Brown, he wanted to kick Bill Withers butt, he had a crush on Denise Nicholas! (We both laughed)

John: You should start writing a book.
Bonnie: I am, I've started already.

John: The Pointer Sisters were a regular on the Carol Burnett show, what was that experience like?
Bonnie: Carol taught us so much, I love her. Because of her, I learned to
tap dance.

John: You tapped dance on the "Live at the Opera."
Bonnie: Yes, true, but I really learned when we worked with Carol.

John: Going solo, it was rumored that Motown wanted to make you the
next "Diana Ross", it this true?
Bonnie: Diana had started to get into movies, Lady Sings the Blues and
Mahogany, so Berry wanted to mold me in that fashion. Then there that the issue with Diana when she did the Wiz, everybody wanted Stephanie Mills to do it.

John: I remember that. Stephanie Mills now lives in Charlotte, NC.
Bonnie: Really? What's going on in Charlotte? I've been there I love it.

John: I hear poetry clubs, with music and poets from what I've heard.
Bonnie: Maybe I will come down to visit you. We could show them how to
party. (laughing)

John: I would rather meet you in NYC. Just let me know and I will come up.
Bonnie: Will do.

John: What's your favorite color?
Bonnie: (Laughing) Red! There's dark red, light red, you can do a lot
with the color red.

John: When I listen to Jill Scott, Chrisette Michele, Erykah Badu, I can
her you singing that kind of music. They remind me of you.
Bonnie: I'm glad that you said that, I can hear myself also. I did a jazz
show, singing all the standards, with a 3 piece combo, I really enjoyed it.

John: Do you think that you will ever do a jazz CD? Covering the
standards but also your own stuff, I know that you write music.
Bonnie: Yes, of course, I will do that. I'm working on some stuff now.

John: Way before Beyonce decided to have an all girl group, I can
recall that you were on an evening show that Dick Clark host, and performed, "Free Me From My Freedom", and it was an all female band, which was fantastic! Would you consider doing that again?
Bonnie: The show that you are talking about was Dick Clark Live, yeah that was fun. I thought, "Why not, have an all girl band?", you always see all male bands.

John: There was folks who were upset about, "Free Me From My Freedom."
Bonnie: Yeah, people thought that I was talking about S.&.M.; bout being chained up and stuff.

John: Yeah, (laughing) I knew what you were talking about, an emotional kind of chain.
Bonnie: They thought I was talking about being tied up to a tree. First they (Motown) wanted David Ruffin (of the Temptations) to record it, and he said that he wouldn't.

John: Nah, I couldn't imagine David Ruffin saying, Tie me to a tree, handcuff me, tie me to a tree, handcuff me. (laughing)
Bonnie: I added that part to it. (laughing, but, said almost shyly ) Some radio stations wouldn't play it. (still laughing)

John: Who would you like to do a duet with?
Bonnie: R. Kelly.

John: But you know what's been said about him, he's interest in young
girls. (Laughing)
Bonnie: Honey, bring him to me, I will straighten him out. (Laughing)

John: In your future shows, will you do a tribute to June?
Bonnie: Yes, of course. I really miss my sister, we were so close. She and I were planning something before she died. (For a moment, reflecting- there was silence)

John: Your fans imagine you as the sassy, sexy one. What is it about you that would surprise your fans?
Bonnie: I'm a nerd. I love crossword puzzles. I love to read.

John: Back in the day, did you ever experience racism?
Bonnie: When we got our Grammy for "Fairytale", we performed at the Grand of Ole Opry and when we came out on stage, we heard someone say, "them girls is black!" (Laughing about that moment in time)

John: I would imagine Christmas for the Pointers was a lot of fun.
Bonnie: Always fun with all of us together. (More laughter)

John: What's your favorite place in the world?
Bonnie: Germany. Amsterdam.

John: What's your favorite food?
Bonnie: Fish, I love salmon.

John: Is there any song that you've heard that you wished you had been offered first?
Bonnie: We are family.

John: We are family from "Dreamgirls" or the one by Sister Sledge?
Bonnie: Sister Sledge, I love that song!

John: On June's first solo album, there's a song called, "New Love, True Love", I could hear that you are singing background vocals. Is that you? (laughing already knowing the answer, just wanted it confirmed, the liner notes on this LP, didn't say, but I knew what I heard)
Bonnie: (Laughing) Yeah that was me!

John: On your Motown album, the first cover was red.
Bonnie: Yeah, what I wanted to do is six albums, one red, one yellow, one blue, the colors of the gay flag. The album wouldn't have a name, it would just be known by its color.

John: That would have been a great idea and different. You have a huge gay following, what's the different between your fans here in the states and your fans overseas?
Bonnie: In Europe they just love you, you don't have to have a top 10
record, whereas its different here in the states.

John: Sometimes family groups sound somewhat alike and have great harmony. Have you ever mistaking your voice for one of your siblings?
Bonnie: Yes, I think I sounded like June. (More laughter) I loved it!!

John: If you were able to have a conversation with someone special,
who would that person be? (Living or died) and why?
Bonnie: Let me think about that one. (thinking..)

John: Do you want to come back to that question?
Bonnie: Yes.

John: Do you have any new music coming out or have you written any new music?
Bonnie: Yes, I have some new songs that I've written. Can't wait to do them!

John: As you know, young artists like Britney Spears are having problems with success, what advice would you give to tomorrow's rising stars?
Bonnie: Take your time and enjoy it. Everything is happening so fast and they don't know how to handle the success. Don't rush it. (A moment later) John, could you make me a copy of some of my music? I can't believe that I don't have copies of them.

John: Yes, of course, I have a friend of mine (DJ - Eddie Murdaugh, NYC) that could do it, if not, I will make you a copy of mine. Well, Bonnie, thank you for the interview.
Bonnie: And thank you John.

John: Is it ok to call you from time to time, to see what's going on?
Bonnie: Sure. (laughing)

John: Bye Bonnie, I love you Bonnie! (laughing and enjoying the moment)
Bonnie: Bye John, I love you too!

Bonnie and I never got back to that question about having a conservation with someone special, perhaps I will ask her when we speak again. I can't believe that I've just finished speaking with Ms. Bonnie Pointer. I can't wait to hear her new music. Stay tuned more to come. You read it first at GBMNews.com. For inquiries concerning Ms Pointer, please contact mailto:dagirlrocks2@yahoo.com