Sheila E.

Sheila E. – Life, Music, and Legacy

Explore the life and career of Sheila E. (Sheila Escovedo) — the American percussionist, singer, and “Queen of Percussion.” From her roots to hit songs, collaborations with Prince, personal struggles, and lasting influence, this in-depth profile covers it all.

Introduction

Sheila Cecilia Escovedo (born December 12, 1957), known professionally as Sheila E., is an American singer, percussionist, drummer, and songwriter whose career spans decades. Renowned for her virtuosity on drums and percussion, she earned the title the “Queen of Percussion.” Her music blends R&B, funk, Latin, pop, jazz, and salsa, and she is celebrated both for her solo work and for her collaborations with icons like Prince.

Sheila’s story is one of musical heritage, personal resilience, bold artistic identity, and ongoing advocacy through music.

Early Life and Musical Roots

Family & Heritage

Sheila was born in Oakland, California, to percussionist Pete Escovedo and Juanita Gardere.

• Her father, Pete Escovedo, is a respected Latin jazz percussionist, and Sheila frequently performed with him.

• Her mother came from Creole-French and African descent; her father was of Mexican-American origin.

• Musical talent ran in the family. Sheila’s uncles included Coke Escovedo (who played with Santana and in Azteca), Alejandro Escovedo, Javier Escovedo, and others.

• She also counts Tito Puente as her godfather.

From an early age, Sheila was immersed in a rich tapestry of Latin, jazz, and popular music through her family.

Beginnings in Performance

• As early as 1976, Sheila joined The George Duke Band as percussionist, marking a formal start to her professional career.

• Even before that, she had begun performing and absorbing musical influences via her father and local Bay Area musical circles.

• Sheila also recorded with her father in albums such as Solo Two (1977) and Happy Together (1978).

These formative years laid the technical foundation and network that would support her later solo trajectory.

Solo Breakthrough & Major Works

The Glamorous Life & Rise to Prominence

Sheila’s major breakthrough as a solo artist came with her 1984 album The Glamorous Life, produced in part under Prince’s influence.

• The title track, “The Glamorous Life”, became a top-ten hit in the U.S., and the single “The Belle of St. Mark” also charted internationally.

• The album earned four Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist.

She followed with Romance 1600 (1985), which spawned the hit “A Love Bizarre” (in collaboration with Prince).

Further albums include:

• Sheila E. (1987)

• Sex Cymbal (1991)

• Writes of Passage (2000)

• Heaven (2001)

• Icon (2013) on her independent label Stiletto Flats Music

• Iconic: Message 4 America (2017)

• Bailar (2024) — her latest album; the single “Bemba Colorá” won a Grammy for Best Global Music Performance.

In total, she has released nine studio albums (solo) to date.

Collaborations, Tours & Musical Direction

Sheila E. has worked with an array of luminaries:

• She played percussion with Marvin Gaye, Herbie Hancock, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, and others.

• She became closely associated with Prince, acting as his percussionist, collaborator, and musical director for his Sign o’ the Times and Lovesexy tours.

• Sheila also served as musical director on television: she was the first female musical director in TV when she took the role for The Magic Hour, Magic Johnson’s show.

• She has toured with Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band (in 2001, 2003, 2006) as a drummer and percussionist.

• In her later years, Sheila has also done production work and performances in Latin and global music contexts.

Accolades and Recognition

• Rolling Stone ranked her #58 among the 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time.

• In 2021, she received the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

• In 2023, she received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star, making her one of the few female percussionists to be so honored.

Style, Identity & Challenges

Musical Identity

Sheila E.’s artistry is rooted in her dual identity as performer and instrumentalist. She always emphasized that her deepest identity was as a musician first, not just as a vocalist.

Her sound draws from multiple genres:

• Latin and Afro-Latin rhythms

• Pop and funk grooves

• R&B, jazz, and salsa inflections

Her performances often fuse visual flair, technical mastery, and energetic stage presence.

Navigating Fame & Identity

Sheila has spoken openly about the tensions between being seen as a pop star and being respected as a serious musician.

• At times, media attention leaned more toward her image and showmanship than her percussion skills. She addressed this in songs like “Sex Cymbal”.

• In interviews, she has recounted how excessive focus on performance and persona sometimes felt “empty” if it pulled her away from the instruments she loved.

• She has reflected on her relationship with Prince—not simply as mentor and protégé, but as musical collaborators and mutual influence.

Personal Struggles & Resilience

Sheila E. has endured challenging personal experiences:

• She has publicly shared a traumatic childhood experience—she was raped by her teenage babysitter at age five, which had a profound impact on her life.

• In 1991, she suffered health complications: while undergoing acupuncture, a punctured lung collapsed, and she also developed semi-paralysis in her calf muscle (compounded by wearing high heels while drumming). She later engaged in rehabilitation to walk and perform again.

• She has used her platform for philanthropy and art education. She co-founded Elevate Hope Foundation, which supports music and arts programs for disadvantaged youth, especially those in foster care.

Her ability to continue performing at a high level, while speaking openly about pain and healing, is a testimony to her resilience.

Selected Quotes

Here are some notable quotes from Sheila E.:

“To me, the stage is like my living room, or my home, and when you come over to my house, I have to be a hostess and invite you in so that we can have a great time.”

“I don’t like the solo thing as much as I like playing drums behind someone.”

“She wants to lead the glamorous life, but without love, it ain’t much.”

These lines reveal her groundedness, her love of collaboration, and how the performative side of music must be rooted in authenticity.

Legacy & Influence

Sheila E.’s impact is multifaceted:

• Trailblazing female percussionist
  In a field historically dominated by men, she elevated percussion and drumming in mainstream music and inspired many female musicians to follow that path.

• Bridging genres and cultures
  By fusing Latin rhythms, pop, jazz, and R&B, she expanded the musical palette of mainstream audiences.

• Collaborative pioneer
  Her work with Prince and others helped push boundaries—integrating live percussion in pop, creating hybrid sound, and influencing musical production styles.

• Role model of honesty and resilience
  By speaking openly about trauma, recovery, and purpose, she offers a model for artists to claim their stories beyond persona.

• Philanthropic impact
  Through Elevate Hope and other initiatives, she channels her musical legacy into social transformation.

Her presence remains influential not just through charts and performances but in how young musicians see identity, instrumentality, and courage in life.