pˈɔɪntɚ wʌz bˈɔːɹn ɪn ˈoʊklənd, kˌælɪfˈoːɹniə, ˌɔn dʒˈænjuːˌɛɹi twˈɛnti θɹˈiː, nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi ˈeɪt, æz ðə fˈoːɹθ ʌv sˈɪks tʃˈɪldɹən tə sˈɛɹə ᵻlˈɪzəbəθ nˈeɪ sˈiːləz; nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti fˈoːɹ tˈuː θˈaʊzənd ænd ɹˈɛvɚɹˌɛnd ˈɛltən pˈɔɪntɚ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd wˈʌn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti nˈaɪn.
Pointer was born in Oakland, California, on January 23, 1948, as the fourth of six children to Sarah Elizabeth (née Silas; 1924–2000) and Reverend Elton Pointer (1901–1979).