Pebbles (Radio Personality)
Encyclopedia
Susan Lynne Semedo is a radio presenter, personality, and voice-over artist in the Boston
, Massachusetts
area.
and a native of Wareham, Massachusetts
. Her mother, Henrietta (Lopes) Semedo, was an office manager and her father, Kenneth Semedo (born June 1, 1927), was an X-Ray technician who retired in 1989. As she grew up, she had dreams of being a lawyer, pediatrician and newscaster.
After graduating from Sacred Heart High School
in Kingston, Massachusetts
in 1982 , Pebbles attended Northeastern University in Boston first as an Engineering student, but later switched majors, and graduated with a degree in Communications Studies in 1988.
1090, a station with a predominantly African-American audience, first as a midday on-air personality, before becoming part of the station's morning show.
In 1995, Pebbles left WILD for JAM'N 94.5 (WJMN
), a Boston hip-hop FM radio station, to co-host the "Baltazar & Pebbles Morning Show." While Baltazar left the morning show in 2001, Pebbles remained at WJMN and was paired with Ramiro Torres
to form the "Ramiro & Pebbles Morning Show." She interviews celebrities and reports on traffic, news, and entertainment gossip, with segments including Entertainment Update, Fast Facts, and The Ladies Room. She is known for her "big-sister" aura at a station where 18 to 34-year-old women are the largest audience. Her Ladies Room segment includes advice for women on relationships, styles, and careers.
In January 2011, WJMN (FM)
was ranked fourth in the Boston area, with 1,063,800 listeners, according to Arbitron
.
Pebbles also runs her own communications company providing vocals for commercials, web presentations, audio books and phone systems. She writes an online blog called "The Pebbles Perspective".
In an interview with the Boston Globe in 2006, Pebbles said that while interviewing celebrities is definite perk of her job, "I like when we get to talk to audience members and people call in the show. That's the fun part for me."
She also serves as a strong role model to young girls in the Boston area interested in technology and science.
Pebbles is a strong supporter of youth literacy, and spent National Reading Month in March 2011 going to schools to read. Each student in the classrooms received a special backpack, books and school supplies.
Newspaper articles have labeled women hip-hop/pop/rock radio morning show hosts in Boston a "vanishing species," saying that women are often replaced by male personalities who can compete with syndicated male-dominated morning shows.
There are currently a handful of women morning radio hosts and co-hosts on Boston's 20 top-ranked popular music stations, including Pebbles on WJMN, co-host Kennedy on WBMX (FM), Rita Cary on WXRV
, and traffic reporter Lisa on the "Matty in the Morning" show on WXKS-FM
.
in the 1980s.
Program Director Elroy Smith told her she needed a radio-friendly name, and gave her three choices: Pebbles, Gypsy, or Asia. She chose Pebbles because, at the time, R&B singer Perri "Pebbles" Reid was popular for the song "Mercedes Boy
." "It kind of had a buzz around the name, which is good," Pebbles told the Boston Globe in 2006.
Pebbles reported from the 1998 Winter Olympics
in Nagano, Japan
.
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
area.
Early life and education
Pebbles, born in May 1964, is Cape VerdeanCape Verdean
Cape Verdean may refer to:* Something of, from, or related to the country of Cape Verde* A person from Cape Verde, or of Cape Verdean descent. For information about the Cape Verdean people, see Demographics of Cape Verde and Culture of Cape Verde. For specific persons, see List of Cape Verdeans.*...
and a native of Wareham, Massachusetts
Wareham, Massachusetts
Wareham is a town located in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 20,335, with an estimated 2008 population of 21,221....
. Her mother, Henrietta (Lopes) Semedo, was an office manager and her father, Kenneth Semedo (born June 1, 1927), was an X-Ray technician who retired in 1989. As she grew up, she had dreams of being a lawyer, pediatrician and newscaster.
After graduating from Sacred Heart High School
Sacred Heart High School (Kingston, Massachusetts)
Sacred Heart High School is a private college preparatory high school of Roman Catholic denomination in Kingston, Massachusetts. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston. The school is operated by the Sisters of Divine Providence and has been educating students in grades 7-12...
in Kingston, Massachusetts
Kingston, Massachusetts
Kingston is a coastal town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. According to the 2010 Census, it had a population of 12,629.-History:Before European settlers arrived in Kingston it was within the tribal home to the Wampanoag people...
in 1982 , Pebbles attended Northeastern University in Boston first as an Engineering student, but later switched majors, and graduated with a degree in Communications Studies in 1988.
Career
She started her radio career in 1988 in Boston at WILD (AM)WILD (AM)
WILD 1090 AM is a radio station licensed to Boston, Massachusetts. It broadcasts on 1090 kHz and airs programming from China Radio International under a lease agreement...
1090, a station with a predominantly African-American audience, first as a midday on-air personality, before becoming part of the station's morning show.
In 1995, Pebbles left WILD for JAM'N 94.5 (WJMN
WJMN (FM)
WJMN is a successful Rhythmic Top 40 radio station licensed to Boston, Massachusetts, USA, under the ownership of Clear Channel Communications. Its current slogan is "Hip Hop and Today's Hit Music!" and can be heard as far north as the White Mountains under good conditions, and in portions of...
), a Boston hip-hop FM radio station, to co-host the "Baltazar & Pebbles Morning Show." While Baltazar left the morning show in 2001, Pebbles remained at WJMN and was paired with Ramiro Torres
Ramiro Torres
Ramiro Torres is a Boston, Massachusetts area radio personality also known as "The Freakin' Puerto Rican".Born in Everett, Massachusetts, to Luz Maria and Ramiro Torres Sr., Ramiro started at Clear Channel Communications as an intern while attending the New England Institute of Art in 1994...
to form the "Ramiro & Pebbles Morning Show." She interviews celebrities and reports on traffic, news, and entertainment gossip, with segments including Entertainment Update, Fast Facts, and The Ladies Room. She is known for her "big-sister" aura at a station where 18 to 34-year-old women are the largest audience. Her Ladies Room segment includes advice for women on relationships, styles, and careers.
In January 2011, WJMN (FM)
WJMN (FM)
WJMN is a successful Rhythmic Top 40 radio station licensed to Boston, Massachusetts, USA, under the ownership of Clear Channel Communications. Its current slogan is "Hip Hop and Today's Hit Music!" and can be heard as far north as the White Mountains under good conditions, and in portions of...
was ranked fourth in the Boston area, with 1,063,800 listeners, according to Arbitron
Arbitron
Arbitron is a consumer research company in the United States that collects listener data on radio audiences. It was founded as American Research Bureau by Jim Seiler in 1949 and became national by merging with L.A. based Coffin, Cooper and Clay in the early 1950s...
.
Pebbles also runs her own communications company providing vocals for commercials, web presentations, audio books and phone systems. She writes an online blog called "The Pebbles Perspective".
In an interview with the Boston Globe in 2006, Pebbles said that while interviewing celebrities is definite perk of her job, "I like when we get to talk to audience members and people call in the show. That's the fun part for me."
Women on-air in Boston
Pebbles is credited by New England media critics for her staying power on the Boston morning radio dial, in a field where few women have had such success. Radio industry professionals have said that in the world of popular music radio, where on-air personalities have to have a "colorless lifestyle," Pebbles has made herself relatable to any group.She also serves as a strong role model to young girls in the Boston area interested in technology and science.
Pebbles is a strong supporter of youth literacy, and spent National Reading Month in March 2011 going to schools to read. Each student in the classrooms received a special backpack, books and school supplies.
Newspaper articles have labeled women hip-hop/pop/rock radio morning show hosts in Boston a "vanishing species," saying that women are often replaced by male personalities who can compete with syndicated male-dominated morning shows.
There are currently a handful of women morning radio hosts and co-hosts on Boston's 20 top-ranked popular music stations, including Pebbles on WJMN, co-host Kennedy on WBMX (FM), Rita Cary on WXRV
WXRV
WXRG redirects here, for the station in New Hampshire that previously held those calls, see this pageWXRV is an Adult album alternative radio station based in Andover, Massachusetts, with a signal covering most of northeast Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire, and audible as far away as...
, and traffic reporter Lisa on the "Matty in the Morning" show on WXKS-FM
WXKS-FM
WXKS-FM, better known as Kiss 108, is a radio station in Boston, Massachusetts, licensed to nearby Medford broadcasting a Top 40 format...
.
Origin of the nickname
Pebbles, whose real name is Susan Semedo, was given her radio nickname while at WILD (AM)WILD (AM)
WILD 1090 AM is a radio station licensed to Boston, Massachusetts. It broadcasts on 1090 kHz and airs programming from China Radio International under a lease agreement...
in the 1980s.
Program Director Elroy Smith told her she needed a radio-friendly name, and gave her three choices: Pebbles, Gypsy, or Asia. She chose Pebbles because, at the time, R&B singer Perri "Pebbles" Reid was popular for the song "Mercedes Boy
Mercedes Boy
"Mercedes Boy" is a 1988 single by Pebbles from her self-titled debut album. It reached #2 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. It was performed on Soul Train where it was predicted to become a top ten hit. "Mercedes Boy" also peaked at number two for two weeks on...
." "It kind of had a buzz around the name, which is good," Pebbles told the Boston Globe in 2006.
Achievements
"The Ramiro & Pebbles Morning Show" was awarded Best Morning Show by Cityvoter.com in January 2011.Pebbles reported from the 1998 Winter Olympics
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
in Nagano, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.