Life can be very funny sometimes. One day you’re listening to ‘Dare Me’ – one of the world’s greatest songs – and the next you’re interviewing one of the iconic ladies behind it! But besides making songs that belong in every drag queen’s repertoire, The Pointer Sisters were involved in LGBT rights from the get-go, hanging out in San Francisco in the 70s and performing with Sylvester & The Cockettes. We speak to Ruth Pointer about her amazing life so far – from being kidnapped by Mohammed Ali to singing back-up for Rick James – and living to tell the tale!
Hi Ruth, thank you for all your amazing music over the years.
Lovely to speak to you too. You’re very welcome.
When you were starting out your parents thought you performed the Devil’s music, right?
We had a strict upbringing, both my parents were ministers. It was a different time. Secular music was just not allowed in our home. But they slowly grew into enjoying other types of music other than Gospel.
Which of your songs is your favourite?
It has to be ‘I’m So Excited’. When we wrote the song we talked about making something that would last but also based around something people say all the time, so whenever they say it they would think of us. I think that was a Mission: Accomplished!
You’re the last original sister left after various lineup changes. The energy must change with each lineup, right?
Oh, it does. Now I perform with my daughter and granddaughter and I just love it. They bring a youthful energy to the show that I used to have. I try to still have it. It changes with every generation. My granddaughter was a dancer and she brings the sexuality back. My daughter is out there and it’s just fun. I like to just stand back and let them take the stage.
‘Dare Me’ is one of my all time favourite songs. I always play it in my DJ sets.
We had so much doing that video you have no idea. We loved dressing up as gangsters with cigars in our mouths. My favourite part is June waving the drink in front of the boxer’s face like she is going to give it to him but she keeps moving it away at the last minute! It’s so funny.
Was it considered a taboo move wearing suits?
No. I don’t think so. Personally I have always enjoyed my male side. I have always loved wearing male clothing. As a teenager I loved borrowing my older brothers’ clothing. Leather jackets when we were in high school and then I remember begging my brother to let me wear his trench coat – yeah, it was big but I liked it that way! We wore our jeans baggy in the 50s. As a kid, I wore jeans way more than dresses.
There’s a lot of power that comes with wearing leather jackets and trench coats.
Yeah, child, and I have plenty of it.
How was it when Bonnie left the group?
We were upset because we didn’t understand why she would want to leave – it was really at the beginning of our career. I was like, ‘Have you lost your mind? We are only just getting started!’ We went through a really rough time but we decided to stay in the business and sing backup for various people like Rick James.
Wow, how was that?
That was fun. Did he make moves on us? Oh God, yes. Oh child, he was chasing me like…Oooh Lord! I was fond of Rick James. He was crazy. I forget which album of his we sang on.
We sang on Bruce Willis’ album too. He was a Taj Mahal fan. [Blues musician.] He said that he loved the song, ‘Texas Woman Blue’ and when he heard it he said, ‘Whoever is singing backup on that song I want them to sing on my record.’ I don’t think people realise just how much music we have made.
Has it been hard staying in control of your career?
I don’t know that it was that hard. We just wanted to record songs that were about being happy. When we did ‘I’m So Excited’, it was just about going out, meeting someone fun and having a good time. That was basically what we were always about.
Do you have a proudest moment?
I actually think right now, having been told that we are going to be noticed in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture at Washington DC. That brought me to tears. I was like, ‘Really?’ Right now, that’s right at the top.
I mean I used to have a little anxiety about still not having made it into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Every year it would come around and we’d be like, ‘Well, are we going to make it in before we die?!’ But then this came along and it was like, ‘OH! Wow….this tops all of that.’
Out of all the celebrity fans who meant the most?
Mohammad Ali. He was such a world renowned celebrity and still such a fun person. Whenever we went to Chicago he would kidnap us the whole time we were there. He’d take us to the mosque, teach us about integrity, the Islamic religion, having respect for women and he was just fun.
You must have played your fair share of LGBT clubs over the years.
Oh God, we have played so many and we have so many friends in the LGBT community. Coming from Oakland we were friends with Sylvester, The Cockettes…my sisters actually had a very extensive relationship with The Cockettes & Pristine Condition. I remember being caught up in all of that, the communes in Haight-Ashbury, the gay movement, right at the beginning of the 60s when everything was crazy and fun and happening in the streets. We were right there with it. This was before AIDS. There was nothing but fun.
And the first time I sang professionally onstage was as backup for Sylvester at The Peppermint Tree in North Beach. My sisters were his backup singers at the time. June wasn’t well so they called me to ask me to cover her. Before the show Sylvester dressed me up in some of his drag. Child, I hit some of the highest notes I have hit in my life! I didn’t even know I had some of those notes in me.
A lot of people have covered ‘Jump (For My Love)’. My favourite version is Girls Aloud’s. Have you heard it?
Yes, I have! What did I think of it? I don’t remember. I think I listened to it once or twice when someone played it to me but it’s not something that has stuck. I’m flattered that they recorded it though.
Ruth has recently released her autobiography ‘Still So Excited’ and also tours with The Pointer Sisters. www.thepointersisters.com
