Sheila E.

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Sheila E.
Birth name Sheila Escovedo
Born December 12 1957 (1957-12-12) (age 51)
Origin Oakland, California
Genre(s) pop/funk/R&B
Occupation(s) Drummer, Singer, Actress
Instrument(s) Singing, Percussion
Years active 1984–Present
Label(s) Warner Bros. Records, Concord

Sheila Escovedo (born December 12 1957, in Oakland, California), known by her stage name Sheila E., is an American musician, perhaps best known for her work with Prince and Ringo Starr.

Contents

[edit] Biography

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Sheila Escovedo is the daughter of percussionist Pete Escovedo, with whom she frequently performs. Sheila E's uncle is Alejandro Escovedo, formerly with Delphine Neid's first-wave punk rock group The Nuns, now with The Alejandro Escovedo Orchestra. The late Tito Puente was Sheila's godfather. Escovedo is of Mexican, African American, and Creole heritage. Coke Escovedo was also her uncle. She made her recording debut with jazz bassist Alphonso Johnson, "Yesterday's Dream" (1976). She is a drummer and percussionist and also plays violin and guitar. She had also played with George Duke, Lionel Richie, Marvin Gaye, Herbie Hancock, and Diana Ross by the time she was in her early twenties.

The story goes[citation needed] Prince met Sheila performing at a concert with her father in the early 80s and was thoroughly impressed by her talent. After the show he met her and prophetically vowed that one day she would join his band. The two would eventually join forces during the Purple Rain recording sessions. Though taken under Prince's wing, she proved to be a successful artist in her own right. In 1984 she scored hits with "The Glamorous Life" (Hot 100 #7, and regarded as something of an '80s classic), "The Belle Of St. Mark" (#34). In 1985 she scored another hit with "A Love Bizarre" (#11). Sheila E. was nominated for American Music Awards and Grammys for "The Glamorous Life," and opened for Prince on his wildly successful Purple Rain Tour in 1984–85. Sheila recorded three albums during the '80s, The Glamorous Life, Romance 1600, and Sheila E. She appeared in three films, Krush Groove with Run-DMC, LL Cool J and Blair Underwood in 1985, Prince's concert film, Sign 'O' the Times in 1987 and Chasing Papi in 2003. And, she is well-known for her co-vocals with Prince (musician) on his most famous B-side single, "Erotic City," from 1984.

During the Sign 'O' the Times and Lovesexy period of Prince's career, including the Lovesexy World Tour, she served as his drummer and musical director in his highly regarded backup band, dubbed the New Power Generation not long after her departure. She also served as a writer and musician on many of Prince's records, as well as on the albums of his protégées such as Madhouse. After leaving the Prince organization in 1989, Sheila recorded a few more albums, Sex Cymbal, Writes of Passage, and Heaven. However, the album garnered little attention. In 2002 Sheila appeared on the Beyoncé song Work it Out.

Sheila E. was the leader of the house band on the short-lived 1998 late night talk show, The Magic Hour, starring Magic Johnson. Sheila E. has performed three stints with Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band, in 2001, 2003, and 2006. Her drum "duets" with Starr are a moment of comic relief in the show, where they play the same parts but he quickly falls behind, shrugs and smiles as she takes off on an extended percussion solo.

In 2004, Sheila toured New Zealand as drummer and peercussionist for the Abe laboriel band.

In February 2006 Sheila performed with Prince once again at the BRIT Awards.

In March 2007 she went on a small tour through Europe with her new band project called C.O.E.D. (Chronicles of Every Diva). C.O.E.D consists of Sheila E., Kat Dyson, Rhonda Smith and Cassandra O'Neal. For several concerts she was joined by Candy Dulfer as special guest.

She performed at the 2007 Latin Grammy awards with Juan Luis Guerra. She also performed at the ALMA (American Latin Music Awards) Awards in June 2007 with Prince.

Her most recent live performance was on July 7, 2007 in Minneapolis, MN with Prince. She performed at all three of his concerts: first, at Prince's 3121 perfume launch at Macy's, followed by the Target Center concert, and finally, closing it out with Prince, at an aftershow at First Ave.

Sheila E. is the business partner of singer and former Brides of Funkenstein, Lynn Mabry. They formed a foundation for abused children called the Elevate Hope Foundation (www.elevatehope.org). Sheila E. always used to collaborate with others artists most notable with Gloria Estefan in which she played the timbales, Sheila started first with Estefan's first Spanish studio album Mi Tierra at 1993, and at 2007 with Estefan's smash hit "No Llores" in which also collaborates Carlos Santana and Jose Feliciano.

In October 2007, Sheila will be a judge alongside Australian Idol judge and marketing manager Ian "Dicko" Dickson and Goo Goo Dolls lead singer John Rzeznik on the Fox network's The Next Great American Band.

[edit] Personal

Via claims surrounding brother Peter Michael Escovedo, Nicole Richie is rumored to be Sheila E'.s biological niece[1].

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Singles

Year Song US Hot 100 US R&B Chart US Dance UK singles Album
1984 "The Glamorous Life" 7 9 1 96 The Glamorous Life
1984 "The Belle of St. Mark" 34 68 - 18 The Glamorous Life
1985 "A Love Bizarre" 11 2 1 76 Romance 1600
1985 "Sister Fate" - 36 - - Romance 1600
1987 "Hold Me" 68 3 - - Sheila E.
1987 "Koo Koo" - - - - Sheila E.
1991 "Sex Cymbal" - - - - Sex Cymbal
1991 "Droppin' Like Flies" - - - - Sex Cymbal
1992 "Cry Baby - - - - Sex Cymbal

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

fr:Sheila E. it:Sheila E. nl:Sheila E. pl:Sheila E.

Retrieved from "http://india.smashits.com/wikipedia/Sheila_E."
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