Bonnie Pointer, founding member of The Pointer Sisters, dies at the age of 69

The news was confirmed by sister and fellow band member Anita on Monday

Bonnie Pointer, one of the members of The Pointer Sisters, has died at the age of 69. AP

Bonnie Pointer, one of the four original members of The Pointer Sisters, has died at the age of 69.

The news was confirmed in a statement on Monday, June 8, from sister and band member Anita, who said: “It is with great sadness that I have to announce to the fans of The Pointer Sisters that my sister, Bonnie died this morning.”

Her cause of death has not been revealed.

The sisters – Bonnie, Anita, Ruth and the late June – began singing in their father's church in Oakland, California, and rose to fame in the 1970s.

Their songs included hits such as I'm So Excited and Jump (For My Love). The quartet won three Grammys over the course of their career, the first being for their 1975 hit song Fairytale.

The song, co-written by Bonnie and her sister Anita, won Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for the year 1974 and was later recorded by Elvis Presley.

Bonnie left the group in the mid-1970s for a Motown solo career. She had her biggest solo hit with the 1978 release Heaven Must Have Sent You.

"Because of Bonnie's talent, drive and determination, the multi-Grammy winning Pointer Sisters exist and have had the great fortune of spending two decades at the top of the charts and close to 50 years performing to sold out audiences around the world," a statement posted to the group’s website on Monday read.

Speaking to CNN, Anita said: "On behalf of my siblings and I and the entire Pointer family, we ask for your prayers at this time."