The Pointer Sisters

R&B vocal quartet the Pointer Sisters have had a career marked by amazing versatility and perseverance. Sporting a distinct retro look, they became the first black female group to perform on the Grand Old Opry, and won a Best Country Grammy in 1975 with "Fairytale." They scored a major pop hit in 1978 with the Bruce Springsteen-penned "Fire," and had several hits in the 1980s that included the irresistible dance/pop classic "I'm So Excited" and "Jump (For My Love)"--the latter won a Grammy in 1984. While the Sisters never again achieved the success they had in the '70s and '80s, they remained a viable touring act in the decades that followed. Sadly, June Pointer, the youngest of the group, succumbed to cancer in 2006.

• pop