Sheila E. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sheila E.
Sheila E. performing in 2014
Born	Sheila Cecilia Escovedo (1957-12-12) December 12, 1957 (age 68) Oakland, California, U.S.
Occupation	Musician percussionist singer songwriter music director
Years active	1976–present
Parent(s)	Pete Escovedo (father)
Relatives	Peter Michael Escovedo (brother) Coke Escovedo (uncle) Alejandro Escovedo (uncle) Nicole Richie (niece)
Musical career
Genres	Latin funk Pop R&B jazz
Instruments	Drums percussion vocals guitar bass guitar
Labels	Stiletto Flats Music Warner Bros. Paisley Park Concord

Sheila Cecilia Escovedo (born December 12, 1957), better known by her stage name Sheila E., is an American percussionist, singer, songwriter, and bandleader. She is widely celebrated as one of the most talented drummers and percussion players in modern music history. Because of her incredible skill on stage, music critics and fans often call her the "Queen of Percussion". Over her long career, she has performed many different music styles, including Latin jazz, funk, pop, R&B, and salsa.

Sheila E. grew up in a very musical family in Oakland, California. She began performing professionally during the 1970s alongside her father, the famous Latin percussionist Pete Escovedo. She later became a global superstar during the 1980s through her solo music and her famous collaborations with the rock and pop musician Prince. Her hit songs, such as "The Glamorous Life" and "A Love Bizarre", made her a household name around the world.

Throughout her career, Sheila E. has broken barriers for female instrumentalists. She has directed live television orchestras, played in major feature film soundtracks, and toured with legend Ringo Starr. In recognition of her lifelong contributions to the arts, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. She remains an active performer, teacher, and charity leader.

Early Life and Musical Family Roots

Growing up in Oakland

Sheila Cecilia Escovedo was born on December 12, 1957, in Oakland, California. She grew up surrounded by diverse musical sounds in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her mother, Juanita Gardere, worked in a dairy factory and comes from a French and African heritage known as Louisiana Creole. Her father is Pete Escovedo, a renowned Mexican-American percussionist.

Music was a constant part of everyday life in the Escovedo household. Sheila began tapping out rhythms on pots, pans, and furniture when she was a toddler. By the age of three, she was already trying to play real instruments. Her father noticed her natural sense of timing and began teaching her how to play Latin percussion instruments like congas and bongos. She was raised in a warm and faith-filled family, and she attended local Catholic schools.

A legendary musical family

The Escovedo family has a rich history in the American music scene:

• Her father, Pete Escovedo, helped lead several major Latin and jazz groups.
• Her uncle, Coke Escovedo, played percussion with the legendary Latin rock group Santana and co-founded the group Azteca.
• Her uncle, Alejandro Escovedo, became a well-known rock singer and songwriter.
• Her uncle, Javier Escovedo, founded the early punk band The Zeros.
• Her brother, Peter Michael Escovedo, is also an accomplished percussionist and television music producer.
• Television personality Nicole Richie is Sheila E.'s niece.
• The legendary Latin jazz star Tito Puente was Sheila E.'s godfather and a key musical mentor throughout her life.

Growing up around these talented artists gave Sheila early opportunities to see how professional musicians worked, rehearsed, and entertained audiences.

Early Professional Career (1976–1983)

First recordings with George Duke and Pete Escovedo

Sheila E. started playing on professional studio recordings before she turned twenty. In 1976, she made her recording debut on bassist Alphonso Johnson's jazz album Yesterday's Dreams.

In 1977, Sheila and her father recorded a joint Latin jazz album titled Solo Two. Soon after, keyboardist and composer George Duke invited Sheila to join the George Duke Band as a full-time percussionist. She toured internationally with Duke from 1976 to 1980. She also performed on four of his major albums, including Don't Let Go (1978) and A Brazilian Love Affair (1980). These early tours gave her valuable experience on major concert stages around the world.

Studio sessions with legendary artists

Sheila quickly earned a reputation as one of the fastest and most precise percussionists in California. Other artists began calling her to play on their records:

• In 1978, she released another duo album with her father called Happy Together.
• In 1979, she played percussion on Michael Jackson's massive disco-funk hit "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough".
• In 1980, she contributed rhythm tracks to jazz-fusion pioneer Herbie Hancock on his album Monster.
• In 1983, she was hired as a touring percussionist for Marvin Gaye during his final concert tour.

Through these major projects, she demonstrated that she could play almost any style of music, from jazz and funk to disco and R&B.

Rise to Global Fame (1984–1993)

Sheila E. during a live performance in 1985

Meeting Prince and The Glamorous Life

Sheila met musician Prince in 1977 when he attended one of her concerts with her father. Prince was amazed by her drumming skills, and the two quickly became close friends and artistic collaborators.

In early 1984, she signed a solo recording deal with Warner Bros. Records and officially took the stage name Sheila E. Working closely with Prince, she wrote and recorded her debut solo album, The Glamorous Life, which came out in June 1984.

The album was a giant commercial success:

• It sold more than 500,000 copies in the United States and received a Gold certification.
• The title track, "The Glamorous Life", reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 and hit number one on the dance charts.
• The follow-up single, "The Belle of St. Mark", also became an international hit.
• The album earned four Grammy Award nominations in 1985, including one for Best New Artist.

In late 1984, Sheila E. and her band opened for Prince on his legendary Purple Rain Tour, performing in front of sold-out sports arenas across North America.

Romance 1600 and movie appearances

In August 1985, Sheila released her second solo album, Romance 1600. Like her debut, it earned a Gold record award. The album featured the popular duet "A Love Bizarre", which she performed with Prince. The song rose to number eleven on the pop charts and remains one of her signature hits.

In the same year, Sheila expanded her career into acting:

• She took on a lead role in the hip-hop musical movie Krush Groove (1985).
• She recorded the high-energy song "Holly Rock" for the movie soundtrack.
• She also sang on the famous charity single "We Are the World" by USA for Africa, helping raise funds to fight hunger.

Musical director and international touring

In 1987, Sheila released her self-titled third album, Sheila E., which produced the R&B hit "Hold Me".

That same year, Prince hired Sheila to serve as the musical director and drummer for his band during the famous Sign o' the Times Tour. As musical director, she was in charge of rehearsing the entire band, arranging songs, and leading transitions between complex pieces of music. She continued this leadership role on Prince's Lovesexy Tour in 1988 and 1989. In 1991, she released her fourth solo album.

Music Directing, Touring, and Television (1994–2012)

Sheila E. playing live on stage in 2000

Directing for television and working with superstars

During the 1990s and 2000s, Sheila expanded her work behind the scenes as a music producer, arranger, and director.

• In 1994, she played percussion on Gloria Estefan's Latin album Mi Tierra.
• In 1996, she joined Japanese pop star Namie Amuro as a touring drummer and musical director.
• In 1998, she was hired as the bandleader and music director for the television talk show The Magic Hour, hosted by basketball icon Magic Johnson. This made her the first female musical director of a late-night television band.
• In 2002, she contributed percussion to the hit song "Work It Out" by Beyoncé.

Touring with Ringo Starr and All-Starr Band

Former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr invited Sheila E. to join his famous supergroup, Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band.

Between 2001 and 2008, Sheila completed multiple world tours with the group. During these concerts, she played drums alongside Starr, performed Latin percussion solos, and sang her own hit songs to arenas of classic rock fans. Her performances earned praise from rock fans and fellow drummers worldwide.

Television competitions and the E. Family

Sheila remained a regular face on television throughout the late 2000s:

• In 2007, she served as a celebrity judge on the competition series The Next Great American Band.
• In 2009, she competed on the reality music show Gone Country. She won the competition by creating a country song titled "Glorious Train".
• In 2011, she performed alongside pop star Marc Anthony during the season finale of American Idol.
• In September 2011, she joined her father and brothers to release a collaborative family album titled Now & Forever under the group name The E. Family.

Recent Projects and Continued Acclaim (2013–Present)

Sheila E. in concert in 2014

Major film soundtracks and Prince tributes

In 2013, Sheila released her solo album Icon, followed by her inspiring autobiography, Beat of My Own Drum, in 2014.

She also worked with famous film composer Hans Zimmer to record thunderous percussion tracks for major superhero movies, including Man of Steel (2013) and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). She later played percussion for the animated movie The Boss Baby (2017).

Following Prince's passing in 2016, Sheila led emotional musical tributes to honor her longtime friend. She directed and performed in special tribute shows at the 2016 BET Awards and the 2020 television special Let's Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Prince.

Recent albums and honors

Sheila has continued to create new music and teach future musicians:

• In 2020, she launched an online video masterclass to teach Latin percussion and drum kit fundamentals to aspiring drummers.
• In 2021, the Latin Recording Academy awarded her the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
• In July 2023, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• In 2023, she served as the music director for the television game show Lotería Loca.
• In April 2024, she released her tenth studio album, Bailar, celebrating salsa and Latin dance music.
• At the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, her song "Bemba Colorá" (recorded with Gloria Estefan and Mimy Succar) won the Grammy Award for Best Global Music Performance.
• In July 2026, she was inducted as an honorary member of the historic Zeta Phi Beta sorority in Nashville, Tennessee.

Musical Style and Drumming Equipment

Vocal range and musical style

As a singer, Sheila E. has a deep and expressive singing voice classified as a contralto. Her songs bring together multiple musical styles:

• Latin Jazz and Salsa: Complex syncopated rhythms with strong brass melodies and rich percussion.
• Funk: Heavy basslines, snappy snare beats, and upbeat dance grooves.
• Pop and Synth-Pop: Catchy vocal hooks paired with modern electronic synthesizers.
• Rhythm and Blues: Smooth vocal harmonies and soulful instrumental solos.

Signature percussion instruments

Sheila is famous for playing a very large setup of instruments on stage at the same time:

• Timbales: Two shallow metal single-headed drums played with thin sticks, often mounted with cowbells and wood blocks.
• Congas: Tall, narrow, single-headed Latin drums played directly with the hands.
• Bongos: A pair of small, open-bottomed hand drums tuned to high pitches.
• Additional percussion: Tambourines, shekeres, guiros, and hand shakers.
• Traditional drum kit: Bass drum, snare drum, toms, and Zildjian cymbals.

In addition to drums, Sheila is an accomplished player of the acoustic guitar, electric bass, and electronic keyboards.

Community Work and Charity

Sheila E. and Lynn Mabry promoting arts education

Throughout her life, Sheila E. has used music to help children in need:

Elevate Hope Foundation

In 2001, Sheila co-founded the Elevate Hope Foundation alongside singer Lynn Mabry. The charity provides funding and musical equipment to support music therapy and creative arts programs for children who have experienced difficult family lives. The organization believes that making music helps young people heal, build confidence, and discover new talents.

Elevate Oakland

In 2011, Sheila helped establish Elevate Oakland (originally known as 51Oakland). This non-profit organization brings working artists, musicians, and instruments into public schools in Oakland, California. The program ensures that students have access to band classes, recording technology, and art instruction, serving thousands of students across dozens of local schools each year.

Selected Discography

• The Glamorous Life (1984)
• Romance 1600 (1985)
• Sheila E. (1987)
• Sex Cymbal (1991)
• Writes of Passage (2000)
• Heaven (2001)
• Icon (2013)
• Iconic: Message 4 America (2017)
• Hella Fonk E (2022)
• Bailar (2024)

Major Awards and Honors

Grammy Awards

Special Recognitions

• Inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame (2021)
• Awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2023)
• Received the NAMM TEC Awards Lifetime Achievement Honor (2025)
• Honored by the National Museum of African American History and Culture for her achievements in American music

Related Pages

In Spanish: Sheila E. para niños

• Latin jazz
• Percussion instrument
• Prince (musician)
• Pete Escovedo