Few all-sister groups can claim the kind of success that The Pointer Sisters achieved. Formed of four sisters that grew up singing gospel and R&B music, they experimented with a number of genres during their height of popularity in the '70s, including funk, pop and soul.

As young girls, the Pointer sisters (Bonnie, June, Anita, Ruth and Issa) were raised in a religious home with a pastor for a father. Naturally, they began by singing in their church, The Church of God in West Oakland, developing their talent and passion for music. But makeup, dancing, jewelry, movies and rock music were all considered "the devil's work" in their household. When they were older, they acquired a copy of Elvis Presley's All Shook Up--and were shocked that their mother let them play it. They guessed that "Crying in the Chapel" impressed their mother enough that she gave the record a pass.

Bonnie and June were the first to form a professional group, striking out on their own and singing backup vocals for bands as diverse as Boz Scaggs and Grace Slick. They eventually developed their own sound and material, looking back to the 1940s for inspiration. Their music often combined jazz, scat and be-bop while they performed onstage dressed in clothes from the '40s.

By 1973, the group had released a self-titled debut album. In time, they became a quartet with Ruth and Anita. They would have many major hits throughout the '70s and would continue touring into the '00s. Ruth's daughter Issa would replace her when health complications made it difficult to keep performing.