Perri "Pebbles" Reid
Perri "Pebbles" Reid | |
---|---|
Birth name | Perri Arlette McKissack[1] |
Born |
[2] Oakland, California, U.S. | August 29, 1964
Genres | Dance-pop, R&B, new jack swing, urban contemporary, |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
Years active |
|
Labels |
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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
|
14 | 5 | — | 43 | — | 56 | 56 |
| |||||
1990 | Always
|
37 | 12 | — | 68 | — | — | — |
| |||||
1995 | Straight from My Heart
|
146 | 43 | — | — | 83 | — | — | ||||||
2008 | Prophetic Flows Vol I & II [A]
|
— | — | 12 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
- A Album credited to Sister Perri.
Compilation albums
- Greatest Hits (2000, Hip-O)
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. |
- B Single credited to Sister Perri.
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 2 3 "No Neanderthal, Pebbles Is Now a Yabba-Dabba-Do Pop Success". People. 3 October 1988. ISSN 0093-7673.
- ↑ Year of birth confirmation, familysearch.org; accessed April 7, 2015.
- 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.
- ↑ Gregory, Hugh (1995). Soul Music A-Z. Da Capo Press. p. 235. ISBN 978-0306806438.
- ↑ Warner, Jay (2006). On This Day in Black Music History. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 243. ISBN 9780634099267.
- ↑ "Body Lovers", discogs.com; accessed April 7, 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 "US Album Charts > Pebbles". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
- ↑ Tannenbaum, Rob. "L.A. Comes to New York". New York. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
- ↑ "'Sister Perri' The Preacher Formerly Known As Pebbles". Ebony. 2000.
- ↑ Kinnon, Joy Bennett (September 1, 2000). "'Sister Perri' The Preacher Formerly Known As Pebbles". Ebony. 55 (11): 108–114. ISSN 0012-9011.
- ↑ Prato, Greg. "Pebbles Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ↑ Lithonia singer wins Essence R&B Star Search, crossroadsnews.com; accessed April 7, 2015.
- ↑ "Otis Nixon and Perri Reid". Lodi News-Sentinel. 27 September 2000. p. 7.
- 1 2 "CAN Charts > Pebbles". RPM. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
- ↑ "JPN Charts > Pebbles". Oricon. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
- 1 2 "NLD Charts > Pebbles". MegaCharts. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
- 1 2 "UK Charts > Pebbles". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2012-04-22.
- 1 2 "US Certifications > Pebbles". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "US Singles Charts > Pebbles". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
- ↑ David Kent (1993). Australian Charts Book 1970—1992. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ↑ "IRE Charts Search > Pebbles". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
- ↑ "NZ Charts > Pebbles". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
External links
- Official website
- Perri "Pebbles" Reid discography at Discogs
- Perri "Pebbles" Reid at the Internet Movie Database