Nico

Born and raised in Berkeley, California, Nico Pemantle has been writing and recording songs since he was 19. Highly influenced by artists such as James Taylor and Jim Croce, Nico has now written and recorded about 50 songs.

Outside of his songwriting endeavors, Nico has enjoyed careers both in play-by-play broadcasting and in teaching. While at U.C. Berkeley (1985-90), Nico broadcast spring training games for the Oakland A's; he is still the youngest person ever hired to broadcast for a major league team. After college, Nico spent four years (1990-94) as play-by-play announcer for the Southern Oregon A's, a minor league affiliate of the Oakland A's. It was during this time that he was discovered by KROG and KCMX.

He returned to Berkeley in 1994 to help save Black Pine Circle, the once thriving school founded by his parents. Serving as legal aid, strategist, advisor to teachers and students, and right-hand man to his mother, who took over as Director in 1995, he was indispensable in bringing the school back to health and to its former excellence. He stayed on for 20 years, serving on the Board, teaching and eventually becoming the school counselor.

While at BPC Nico wrote 3 books that explain and illustrate various aspects of the Socratic (inquiry, discovery) method of teaching. They are full of imaginative lessons he developed as a teacher for a class he called “Communications.” They convey the essence of BPC’s teaching philosophy.

Nico is currently a Guidance Counselor in Oakland Unified School District.