Bonnie Pointer, original member of The Pointer Sisters, has died at the age of 69 from an undisclosed illness.

The singer began performing with her sister June in 1969 and the group eventually became a quartet when sisters Anita and Ruth joined in the 1970s.

Bonnie left the group in 1978, just before they went on to enjoy huge commercial success with hits such as 'I'm So Excited', 'Fire', 'Jump (For My Love)' and 'Automatic'.

Talking to TMZ, Anita 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. Our family is devastated, on behalf of my siblings and I and the entire Pointer family, we ask for your prayers at this time.

"Bonnie was my best friend and we talked every day, we never had a fight in our life, I already miss her and I will see her again one day."

The youngest of the sisters, June, died in 2006 of breast cancer at the age of just 52.