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Pebbles
Background information
Birth name	Perri Alette McKissack
Born	November 06, 1966 (1966-11-06) (age 40)
Origin	Oakland, California, USA
Genre(s)	Dance-pop, R&B, Urban contemporary
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Years active	1987-1996
Label(s)	MCA (1987–1996)

Perri Smith-Reid-Nixon (formerly known as Pebbles), born Perri Alette McKissack on November 6, 1966, is an American dance-pop and urban contemporary singer-songwriter. “Libel” redirects here. ... Image File history File links Circle-question. ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 55 days remaining. ... Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... “Oakland” redirects here. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Largest metro area Greater Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Dance-pop is a style of dance music that grew out of disco-influenced beginning in the early 80s. ... Rhythm and blues (also known as R&B or RnB) is a popular music genre combining jazz, gospel, and blues influences, first performed by African American artists. ... The term urban contemporary was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. ... The term singer-songwriter refers to performers who both write and sing their own material. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Music Corporation of America was a United States based corporation in the music business. ... is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ... Dance-pop is a style of dance music that grew out of disco-influenced beginning in the early 80s. ... The term urban contemporary was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. ...

Career

Although dance-pop singer Pebbles scored several hit singles on her own during the '80s, she has become best-known as the manager (and creator) of one of the genre's biggest hit machines the following decade. Born Perri McKissack in Oakland, CA, on November 6, 1964, got her start in the early '80s as a backup singer for percussionist/band leader Bill Summers and the funk outfit Con Funk Shun, helping co-pen one of the latter band's hits, "Body Lovers." Con Funk Shun was one of the most popular R&B & funk bands of the 1970s and 1980s, with numerous hit records including Ffun, a Billboard magazine #1 With A Bullet Top Soul Single. ...

Perri "Pebbles" McKissack was married to George Smith who owned the Bank of Oakland, Smith Engineering, Pacific Cal Management and Pacific Cal Airlines. George Smith financed, mentored,implemented and orchestrated Pebbles career before and during her first album. George Smith secured Pebbles recording contract with MCA through his political contacts. He masterminded Pebbles' career and used his business acumen to bring the singles "Girlfrind" and "Mercedes Boy" to top ten songs on the Billboard Charts.

George Smith was instrumental in developing the careers of Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and Antonio "L.A." Reid (Pebbles met Reid and started dating him while still married to George). George Smith also managed and was responsible for spearheading Bobby Brown's solo career with the "Don't Be Cruel" album which sold over twelve million copies. Bobby Brown also lived with George Smith for a while at Mr. Smith's estate in Danville, California while he was still married to Pebbles.

Pebbles then founded her own record label, Savvy Records, and created the Atlanta, GA-based hip-hop/dance trio TLC (comprised of members Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, and Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes). Guiding TLC's career and serving as their manager, the trio became one of pop's biggest hit-making groups by 1994, thanks to their 11 times platinum smash Crazysexycool. Pebbles returned back to her solo career in 1995 with her third release overall, Straight From the Heart. Although it was a much more mature work (and featured contributions from such producers/songwriters as Sean "Puffy" Combs, Kyle West, and Organized Noize), it failed to match the commercial success of its predecessors. 2000 saw the release of a 14-track career overview on the Hip-O label with Greatest Hits. Savvy Records was a record label founded in 1993 by singer Pebbles. ... TLC are an American music group, whose repertoire spans R&B, hip hop and pop. ... Tionne Tenise T-Boz Watkins (born April 26, 1970 in Des Moines, Iowa) is an African-American R&B singer; the lead singer of the successful group TLC. She has also worked as an actress, appearing in Hype Williams 1998 film Belly. ... Rozanda Chili Thomas (born February 27, 1971 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an African American R&B singer, one of the three members of the successful group TLC. Thomas was raised by a single mother in the Atlanta area. ... Lisa Nicole Lopes (stage name Left Eye) (May 27, 1971 – April 25, 2002) was a member of the popular R&B group TLC. In addition to hit songs like Waterfalls with TLC, Lopes also did some solo performing. ... CrazySexyCool is a bestselling R&B/hip hop album by the group TLC, released on November 15, 1994. ... Sean John Combs (born November 4, 1969 aka P. Diddy, Puff Daddy, Sean Puffy Combs) is an African-American record producer, CEO, and rapper. ... Organized Noize is a successful Atlanta-based American record production company made up of Rico Wade, Ray Murray, and Patrick Sleepy Brown. ... Hip-O Records is a record label, currently part of Universal Music Group, which specializes in reissues and compilations. ...

Discography

Albums

Pebbles Pebbles was Pebbless debut album. ...

• Released: November 16, 1987
• Label: MCA
• Chart Peak: US Pop #14, R&B #5
• RIAA Certification: Platinum
• Singles: "Love/Hate," "Girlfriend," "Mercedes Boy," "Take Your Time," "Do Me Right"

Always is the 320th day of the year (321st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by Music Corporation of America (MCA). ... In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. ...

• Released: September 11, 1990
• Label: MCA
• Chart Peak: US Pop #37, R&B #12
• RIAA Certification: Gold
• Singles: "Giving You the Benefit," "Love Makes Things Happen" (with Babyface), "Backyard" (feat. Salt-N-Pepa), "Always"

Straight from My Heart is the 254th day of the year (255th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by Music Corporation of America (MCA). ... In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. ... Kenneth Babyface Edmonds (born April 10, 1958 in Indianapolis, Indiana) is an R&B and pop singer, songwriter, keyboardist, record producer, film producer, and entreprenuer. ... Salt, DJ Spinderella, and Pepa on the cover to their 1999 CD single, The Brick Track Verses Gitty Up Salt-N-Pepa is an American R&B and hip hop group, consisting of Cheryl James and Sandy Denton (Salt and Pepa, respectively), and Deidre Dee Dee Roper (DJ Spinderella). ... Straight from My Heart is an album released in 1995 by singer Pebbles. ...

• Released: September 12, 1995
• Label: MCA
• Chart Peak: US R&B #43
• RIAA Certification: N/A
• Singles: "Are You Ready?," "I Can't Help It"

Greatest Hits is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by Music Corporation of America (MCA). ... In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. ...

• Released: April 25, 2000
• Label: Hip-O
• Chart Peak: N/A
• RIAA Certification: N/A
• Singles: N/A

Phrophetic Flows (Vol. I & II)^[1] (as "Sister Perri") is the 115th day of the year (116th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... Hip-O Records is now part of Universal Music Group. ... In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. ...

• Released: Spring 2007

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

Singles

The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. ... The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, formerly known as Top Soul Singles, Top Black Singles, and Top R&B Singles (before the hip-hop term was added in the late 1990s), is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. ... Billboards Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart is a weekly national survey of what songs are most popular in U.S. dance clubs. ... The UK Singles Chart is currently compiled by The Official UK Charts Company on behalf of the British record industry. ... Girlfriend is a 1987 single from R&B singer Pebbless self-titled debut album. ... Mercedes Boy is a 1988 single by Pebbles. ... Giving You the Benefit is the title of a number-one R&B single by Pebbles. ... Love Makes Things Happen is the title of a number-one R&B single by Pebbles and Babyface. ... Kenneth Babyface Edmonds (born April 10, 1958 in Indianapolis, Indiana) is an R&B and pop singer, songwriter, keyboardist, record producer, film producer, and entreprenuer. ... Salt, DJ Spinderella, and Pepa on the cover to their 1999 CD single, The Brick Track Verses Gitty Up Salt-N-Pepa is an American R&B and hip hop group, consisting of Cheryl James and Sandy Denton (Salt and Pepa, respectively), and Deidre Dee Dee Roper (DJ Spinderella). ...

Sources

• Pebbles at the Notable Names Database
• VH1
• All Music Guide
• Pebbles Fan site
• Always Pebbles Fansite
• Answers.com
• Billboard.com

NNDB, ostensibly standing for Notable Names Database, produced by Soylent Communications, is an online database of biographical details of notable people. ...

Notes and references

http://wm07.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:wifqxqr5ldhe~T1