R&B legend Ruth Pointer is a study in ageless cool.
Before the "original Pointer sister," as she called herself, performed with daughter Issa Pointer and granddaughter Sadako Pointer at Twin Cities Pride 2016, they took photos with fans. The humidity was horrible. The temperature was trying to creep up to 100. These Pointers dutifully stood in a tent and smiled and took photos with a lot of warm bodies in extremely close proximity. They were more gracious than I; I was refusing to shake hands with anybody.
The Pointers, in their taupe flapper-inspired costumes, sat outside the tent for a quick interview. Issa and Sadako laughed and looked on as I talked to Ruth about her Prince memories, asked a silly "Jump" question and gave her one of my "I Want a TSA Agent With a Slow Hand" T-shirts. I also got her definite assessment about which one of the group's sexy hit songs had done the most to enlarge the population.
When you check out the video, you will notice that Ruth Pointer looks fabulous. I do believe her agelessness is the work of good genes and not needle-related tweaking.
Q: Do you have any Prince memories?
A: I do. When I first met Prince he was just starting; he was performing at a hotel in Los Angeles at the airport. My sister Anita and I went to see the band, and he had on an all-white outfit and his hair was pressed curls, some red suspenders. We loved him from the first time we met him. Eventually, we did come record at Paisley Park. He took us on a tour through it. Nice memories. Seeing him out at clubs occasionally.
Q: Back when you had a vertical leap, how high could you "Jump"?
A: I don't know. [Issa and Sadako laughing] I don't even know. Ha, ha! [Ruth laughed.]
