Perri "Pebbles" Reid

Perri "Pebbles" Reid
Birth name Perri Arlette McKissack[1]
Born (1964-08-29) August 29, 1964[2]
Oakland, California, U.S.
Genres Dance-pop, R&B, new jack swing, urban contemporary,
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Years active
  • 1983–1995
  • 2008–present
Labels
  • MCA (1986–1996)
  • Pebbitone, Inc (1997-present)

Perri Reid (born Perri Arlette McKissack; August 29, 1964), best known by her former stage name, Pebbles, is an American dance-pop and urban contemporary singer-songwriter. She created the contemporary R&B group TLC. She is currently an Atlanta-based minister, known as "Sister Perri".

Early life

Reid was born Perri Arnette McKissack on August 29, 1964,[3][4][5] one of four siblings. Her divorced mother raised her family on the income of a waitress and housekeeper. By age 16, a local musician gave her a production deal which fell through several months later when she got pregnant with her daughter, Ashley. Pebbles married the baby's father but the union only lasted one year.[1]

Early career

Pebbles got her start in 1981 as a backing vocalist for the percussionist/band leader Bill Summers and the funk band Con Funk Shun. Reid co-wrote one of Con Funk Shun's singles, "Body Lovers".[6]

While working at an Oakland, California real estate office she met contractor George L. Smith. Smith bankrolled Pebbles with $80,000 for a demo tape and video for "Mercedes Boy". The demo and video led to a contract with MCA. Smith and Pebbles married in 1985 and made their home in San Francisco.[1]

She recorded several hit singles on her own during the late 1980s and early 1990s (including "Girlfriend", "Mercedes Boy", "Giving You The Benefit", and "Love Makes Things Happen)".[7]

Pebbitone and TLC

In July 1989 Pebbles married L.A. Reid. She formed the Atlanta-based production company Pebbitone and founded her own record label, Savvy Records.

Pebbitone managed TLC, which was signed with LaFace Records, L.A. Reid's record label.[8] When TLC filed for bankruptcy in 1995, due to Pebbles "alleged" mismanagement regarding their funds,[3] the ensuing conflict damaged Pebbles' marriage. She divorced Reid, and Pebbitone sued LaFace for $10 million.[3]

Religious conversion

In 1997, Pebbles underwent a religious conversion. Under her new stage name "Sister Perri",[9] she founded Women of God Changing Lives (WOGCL) Ministries. As an ordained minister, she now preaches and ministers through song.[10]

In 2008, after a thirteen-year music hiatus, Reid released her fourth album and debut gospel album, Prophetic Flows Vol I & II, which peaked at #12 on the Billboard Gospel Album Chart. In February 2011, she was named the executive producer/host of Essence's national R&B search.[11] [12]

Personal life

Pebbles was married to L.A. Reid from 1989 to 1996. In 2000 she married former MLB player Otis Nixon.[13] They divorced in 2004. She married Excel Sharieff in 2010.

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales threshold)
US
[7]		 US
R&B
[7]		 US
Gos
[7]		 CAN
[14]		 JPN
[15]		 NLD
[16]		 UK
[17]
1987 Pebbles
  • Released: November 16, 1987
  • Label: MCA
 14 5 — 43 — 56 56
1990 Always
  • Released: September 11, 1990
  • Label: MCA
 37 12 — 68 — — —
1995 Straight from My Heart
  • Released: September 12, 1995
  • Label: MCA
 146 43 — — 83 — —
2008 Prophetic Flows Vol I & II [A]
  • Released: February 8, 2008
  • Label: Angel Child
 — — 12 — — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

Singles

As main performer

Year Single Peak chart positions Album
US
[19]		 US
R&B
[19]		 US
Dan
[19]		 US
A/C
[19]		 AUS
[20]		 CAN
[14]		 IRE
[21]		 NLD
[16]		 NZ
[22]		 UK
[17]
1987 "Love/Hate" — — 34 — — — — — — — Pebbles
"Girlfriend" 5 1 24 — 86 17 9 23 22 8
1988 "Mercedes Boy" 2 1 2 — — 14 — 39 50 42
"Take Your Time" — 3 41 — — — — — — —
"Do Me Right" — 67 — — — — — — — —
1990 "Giving You the Benefit" 4 1 10 — 48 32 — 32 26 73 Always
"Love Makes Things Happen" (with Babyface) 13 1 — 24 — 91 — — — —
1991 "Backyard" (with Salt-n-Pepa) 73 4 — — — — — — — —
"Always" — 13 — — — — — — — —
1995 "Are You Ready?" — 38 — — — — — — — — Straight from My Heart
2008 "Let Freedom Reign" [B] — — — — — — — — — — Prophetic Flows Vol. I & II
"Healing Waters" [B] — — — — — — — — — — Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

As featured performer

Year Title Artist Peak positions Album
US
[19]		 US
R&B
[19]
1995 "Freedom (Theme from Panther)" Various Artists 45 18 Panther

Music videos

Year Video Director
1990 "Giving You the Benefit" Steven T. Miller/R. Brad Murano

References

  1. 1 2 3 "No Neanderthal, Pebbles Is Now a Yabba-Dabba-Do Pop Success". People. 3 October 1988. ISSN 0093-7673.
  2. ↑ Year of birth confirmation, familysearch.org; accessed April 7, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 "Singer Pebbles Talks About Breakups With Husband L.A. Reid And Group TLC". Jet 88 (24): 37. October 23, 1995. ISSN 0021-5996.
  4. ↑ Gregory, Hugh (1995). Soul Music A-Z. Da Capo Press. p. 235. ISBN 978-0306806438.
  5. ↑ Warner, Jay (2006). On This Day in Black Music History. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 243. ISBN 9780634099267.
  6. ↑ "Body Lovers", discogs.com; accessed April 7, 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "US Album Charts > Pebbles". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  8. ↑ Tannenbaum, Rob. "L.A. Comes to New York". New York. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
  9. ↑ "'Sister Perri' The Preacher Formerly Known As Pebbles". Ebony. 2000.
  10. ↑ Kinnon, Joy Bennett (September 1, 2000). "'Sister Perri' The Preacher Formerly Known As Pebbles". Ebony 55 (11): 108–114. ISSN 0012-9011.
  11. ↑ Prato, Greg. "Pebbles Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  12. ↑ Lithonia singer wins Essence R&B Star Search, crossroadsnews.com; accessed April 7, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Otis Nixon and Perri Reid". Lodi News-Sentinel. 27 September 2000. p. 7.
  14. 1 2 "CAN Charts > Pebbles". RPM. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  15. ↑ "JPN Charts > Pebbles". Oricon. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  16. 1 2 "NLD Charts > Pebbles". MegaCharts. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  17. 1 2 "UK Charts > Pebbles". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2012-04-22.
  18. 1 2 "US Certifications > Pebbles". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "US Singles Charts > Pebbles". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  20. ↑ David Kent (1993). Australian Charts Book 1970—1992. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  21. ↑ "IRE Charts Search > Pebbles". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  22. ↑ "NZ Charts > Pebbles". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 2012-04-21.

External links

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