June Pointer, the youngest of the Pointer Sisters, has died of cancer at the age of 52. She died at a hospital in LA, with two of her sisters, Ruth and Anita, and her two brothers by her side. Third sister Bonnie wasn't present, but the family said that she was there "in spirit".
June and Bonnie founded the Pointer Sisters group, initially performing as a duo, but later joined by Ruth and Anita. They were most prominent in the seventies and eighties with songs like 'I'm So Excited' and 'Jump (For My Love)' - and they won three Grammy Awards during that time. Bonnie was the first sister to leave the group, in 1977, though June also later left. Remaining sisters Anita and Ruth continue to perform using the Pointer Sisters name, with Ruth's daughter Issa making up the numbers.
In a statement, the Pointer family said June had been hospitalised since late February as she fought the disease. It wasn't revealed what kind of cancer she was suffered from.