At the beginning of her career the name Evelyn King was considered "too grown-up" so the nickname "Champagne" was added.
Her father was a back-up singer for groups at Harlem's Apollo Theater. She was discovered by Theodore Life when she worked as a cleaner in Sigma Sound Studios. Her biggest hit "Shame" is considered an ultimate disco classic, entered the Disco Hall Of Fame in 2004 and has been covered by Zhané and Kim Wilde. Other classic hits are "Love Come Down", "Betcha She Don't Love You", "Don't Hide Our Love", "Flirt". In 1982 she dueted with Michael Wycoff on "Can We Be Friends". Along with The Brothers, Vicki Sue Robinson, Revelation and New York Community Choir they discofied the "Hair Musical", led by Warren Schatz. She has recorded twelve albums since 1977, variously produced by the likes of Warren Schatz, René & Angela, Kashif, Leon Sylvers, André Cymone, Theodore Life, Morrie Brown etc.
Her comeback album "Open Book" in 2008 spawned the hit "The Dance". In 2015, King formed the First Ladies of Disco originally with Martha Wash and Linda Clifford. King released a single "Show Some Love" (2015), before leaving the group in December 2018.
The group had its origins when sisters June and Bonnie Pointer began performing in clubs in 1969 as "Pointers, a Pair". The line-up grew to a trio when sister Anita Pointer joined them. They got a record deal with Atlantic Records and released several unsuccessful singles. The trio grew to a quartet when sister Ruth joined in December 1972. They then signed with Blue Thumb Records, recorded their debut album, and began seeing more success, winning a Grammy Award in 1975 for Best Country Vocal Performance for "Fairytale" (1974). Bonnie left the group in 1978 to commence a solo career with only modest success.
The group achieved its greatest commercial success as a trio during the 1980s consisting of the line-up of June, Ruth, and Anita, winning two more Grammys for the top 10 hits "Jump (for My Love)" (1984) and "Automatic" (1984). The group's other U.S. top 10 hits are "Fire" (1979), "He's So Shy" (1980), "Slow Hand" (1981), the remixed version of "I'm So Excited" (1984) and "Neutron Dance" (1985). June Pointer, the youngest sister, struggled with drug addiction for much of her career, leaving the group in April 2004 and dying from extensive cancer in April 2006, at the age of 52. She was replaced by Ruth's daughter Issa Pointer. This trio had a number two hit in Belgium in 2005, covering "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" with Belgian singer Natalia. From 2009 until Anita Pointer's death in 2022, the group consisted of Anita, Ruth, Issa, and Ruth's granddaughter Sadako Pointer. While all four women remained in the group, they most often performed as a trio rotating the lineup as needed.
In December 2016, Billboard magazine ranked them as the 80th most successful dance artists of all-time. In December 2017, Billboard magazine ranked them as the 93rd most successful Hot 100 Artist of all-time and as the 32nd most successful Hot 100 Women Artist of all-time.
Randall L. Richards
Profile: American singer / songwriter, musician, producer and arranger.
BMI song titles credit him as both Randy Richards and Randy Matos.
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