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–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. At age 19, a local musician gave Pebbles a production deal which fell through several months later when she became pregnant with her daughter, Ashley (born January 29, 1983). 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 married George Smith whom she divorced after an alleged affair with L.A. Reid who went on to be her second husband, from 1989 to 1996. In 2000 she married former MLB player Otis Nixon.[13] They divorced in 2004. She married her fourth husband 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.
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.
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