Pebbles

Perri Arlette McKissack, known professionally as Pebbles, was born on 29 August 1964 in Oakland, California. A singer and songwriter, she began performing at sixteen as a back1ing vocalist for funk group Con Funk Shun and co‑wrote the single "Body Lovers". Pebbles’ breakthrough came with the 1987 single "Girlfriend", written by L.A. Reid and Babyface, which reached Number 1 on the U.S. Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart. That year she released her debut album Pebbles, followed by the 1990 album Always and the 1995 release Straight from My Heart. Her most successful tracks include "Mercedes Boy" (1988), "Giving You the Benefit" (1990), "Love Makes Things Happen" (1990), and "Backyard" (1991), all of which topped the R&B chart. From 1989 to 1995, she was married to the producer L.A. Reid. In 1997 she founded the production company Pebbitone and later the label Savvy Records. After a thirteen‑year hiatus, she released -under the name Sister Perri- the gospel album Prophetic Flows Vol I & II in 2008, which peaked at number 12 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart. Pebbles’ career is marked by multiple chart‑topping singles, a successful gospel transition, and her role as a producer and manager for acts such as TLC.