Sheila E.
Sheila Cecilia Escovedo (born December 12, 1957), known professionally by h… Read Full Bio ↴Sheila Cecilia Escovedo (born December 12, 1957), known professionally by her stage name Sheila E., is an American percussionist, singer, author and actress from Oakland, California who became well-known in the 1980s and has continued recording to the present day.
She made her recording debut with jazz bassist Alphonso Johnson on his 1976 album Yesterday's Dreams. She is best known for her long association with Prince but has also collaborated with many other musicians. She had played with George Duke, Lionel Richie, Marvin Gaye, Herbie Hancock, and Diana Ross by the time she was in her early twenties. In recent years, she has collaborated with George Clinton, Ringo Starr, and Gloria Estefan.
Sheila E. is of Mexican, African American, and Creole descent. She is the daughter of percussionist Pete Escovedo, with whom she frequently performs. Her uncle is Alejandro Escovedo, also a musician. She is also niece to Javier Escovedo, founder of seminal San Diego punk act, The Zeros. Another uncle, Mario Escovedo, fronted long-running indie rockers, The Dragons. Notably, Nicole Richie is Sheila E.'s biological niece.
Prince met Sheila E. while she was performing at a concert with her father in the early 1980s. After the show, Prince met her and told her that he and his bassist "were just fighting about which one of us would be the first to be your husband" and prophetically vowed that one day she would join his band.
The two would eventually join forces during the recording sessions for Purple Rain. She provided vocals for Prince's "Let's Go Crazy" B-side single "Erotic City" between 1983 and 1984. Though taken under Prince's wing, she proved to be a successful artist in her own right. In 1984, she scored several hits including "The Glamorous Life" (#7 on the Hot 100 #7,), and "The Belle Of St. Mark" (#34). She opened for the Purple Rain tour and there was a segment where she would have a man called up on stage and seated in a chair while she sang and teased him, similarly mirrored by Janet Jackson for her Velvet Rope Tour.
Around the same time, the collaborating duo began a brief romantic relationship while Prince was still seeing Susannah Melvoin, twin sister of the Revolution band member Wendy Melvoin.
In 1985, she released Romance 1600 which scored her another hit with "A Love Bizarre" (#11). Sheila E. was nominated for American Music Awards and Grammys, including Best New Artist, for The Glamorous Life. Sheila E. recorded three total albums during the '80s, The Glamorous Life, Romance 1600, and Sheila E.
She appeared in four 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 The Adventures of Ford Fairlane and Chasing Papi in 2003.
Later on, she served as Prince's drummer and musical director in his highly regarded backup band, dubbed the New Power Generation. During this same period, Sheila E. released "Koo Koo" from her third album, Sheila, with the accompanying video featuring Cat, a Sign 'O' the Times member, as a back up dancer. Sheila E. also served as a writer and musician on many of Prince's records, as well as on the albums of his protégés such as Madhouse.
After leaving Prince's musical organization in 1989 due to a collapsed lung, Sheila recorded a few more albums, Sex Cymbal, Writes of Passage, and Heaven. However, the albums garnered little attention. Later in 2002, Sheila E. appeared on Beyoncé's 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. She 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. Says Sheila E.: "Ringo truly is one of the greatest rock 'n' roll drummers in the history of music. He enjoys the joke!"
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, C.O.E.D. was joined by Candy Dulfer as a special guest.
On April 9th, 2008, Sheila appeared on the historic Emmy winning program, Idol Gives Back. It was the most important and significant part of the highly rated American Idol television series. Sheila E. took part in the show opener, "Get on Your Feet", with Gloria Estefan. Dance troupe So You Think You Can Dance finalists joined the stage for the memorable moment. Idol Gives Back raised awareness and funds to benefit six total charities. International celebrities and sport figures graced the stage along with Sheila E. and Estefan for the historic television program event.
Sheila E. is also the business partner of singer and former The Brides of Funkenstein, Lynn Mabry. They jointly formed a foundation for abused children called the Elevate Hope Foundation.
She made her recording debut with jazz bassist Alphonso Johnson on his 1976 album Yesterday's Dreams. She is best known for her long association with Prince but has also collaborated with many other musicians. She had played with George Duke, Lionel Richie, Marvin Gaye, Herbie Hancock, and Diana Ross by the time she was in her early twenties. In recent years, she has collaborated with George Clinton, Ringo Starr, and Gloria Estefan.
Sheila E. is of Mexican, African American, and Creole descent. She is the daughter of percussionist Pete Escovedo, with whom she frequently performs. Her uncle is Alejandro Escovedo, also a musician. She is also niece to Javier Escovedo, founder of seminal San Diego punk act, The Zeros. Another uncle, Mario Escovedo, fronted long-running indie rockers, The Dragons. Notably, Nicole Richie is Sheila E.'s biological niece.
Prince met Sheila E. while she was performing at a concert with her father in the early 1980s. After the show, Prince met her and told her that he and his bassist "were just fighting about which one of us would be the first to be your husband" and prophetically vowed that one day she would join his band.
The two would eventually join forces during the recording sessions for Purple Rain. She provided vocals for Prince's "Let's Go Crazy" B-side single "Erotic City" between 1983 and 1984. Though taken under Prince's wing, she proved to be a successful artist in her own right. In 1984, she scored several hits including "The Glamorous Life" (#7 on the Hot 100 #7,), and "The Belle Of St. Mark" (#34). She opened for the Purple Rain tour and there was a segment where she would have a man called up on stage and seated in a chair while she sang and teased him, similarly mirrored by Janet Jackson for her Velvet Rope Tour.
Around the same time, the collaborating duo began a brief romantic relationship while Prince was still seeing Susannah Melvoin, twin sister of the Revolution band member Wendy Melvoin.
In 1985, she released Romance 1600 which scored her another hit with "A Love Bizarre" (#11). Sheila E. was nominated for American Music Awards and Grammys, including Best New Artist, for The Glamorous Life. Sheila E. recorded three total albums during the '80s, The Glamorous Life, Romance 1600, and Sheila E.
She appeared in four 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 The Adventures of Ford Fairlane and Chasing Papi in 2003.
Later on, she served as Prince's drummer and musical director in his highly regarded backup band, dubbed the New Power Generation. During this same period, Sheila E. released "Koo Koo" from her third album, Sheila, with the accompanying video featuring Cat, a Sign 'O' the Times member, as a back up dancer. Sheila E. also served as a writer and musician on many of Prince's records, as well as on the albums of his protégés such as Madhouse.
After leaving Prince's musical organization in 1989 due to a collapsed lung, Sheila recorded a few more albums, Sex Cymbal, Writes of Passage, and Heaven. However, the albums garnered little attention. Later in 2002, Sheila E. appeared on Beyoncé's 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. She 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. Says Sheila E.: "Ringo truly is one of the greatest rock 'n' roll drummers in the history of music. He enjoys the joke!"
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, C.O.E.D. was joined by Candy Dulfer as a special guest.
On April 9th, 2008, Sheila appeared on the historic Emmy winning program, Idol Gives Back. It was the most important and significant part of the highly rated American Idol television series. Sheila E. took part in the show opener, "Get on Your Feet", with Gloria Estefan. Dance troupe So You Think You Can Dance finalists joined the stage for the memorable moment. Idol Gives Back raised awareness and funds to benefit six total charities. International celebrities and sport figures graced the stage along with Sheila E. and Estefan for the historic television program event.
Sheila E. is also the business partner of singer and former The Brides of Funkenstein, Lynn Mabry. They jointly formed a foundation for abused children called the Elevate Hope Foundation.
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
Sheila E. Lyrics
A Love Bizarre The moon up above, it shines on upon our skin Whispering…
Bedtime Story Time to sleep But I'm not sleepy yet Close my eyes But dream…
Belle Of St. Mark The belle of St. Mark was a frail but a…
Boy's Club Hi Suzie, this is Sheila What U gonna do 2night? Stay home…
Come Together / Revolution Here come old flat-top He come groovin' up slowly He got ju-…
Dale Play Rompe la ley, dale play Súbele a la música guatagüe Oh oh…
Dear Michaelangelo Every summer in the gardens of Florence A peasant of female…
Faded Photographs The voice that drew me near to you And drew you…
Glamorous Life She wears a long fur coat of mink Even in…
Hold Me I've tried so many times 2 erase your memory from…
Hon E Man Hon E man (Hon E man) I've got 2 be…
Koo Koo Come see Koo Koo man Doing very worst he can…
Lady Marmalade Hey sister, go sister, soul sister, go sister Hey sister, go…
Love Bizarre The moon up above, it shines on upon our skin Whispering…
Love On A Blue Train All aboard! On my way 2 nowhere lookin' 4 nothin',…
Next Time Wipe The Lipstick Off Your Collar You don't have to send me flowers like you used…
No Line There is no line to my party Come in and join…
Noon Rendezvous I've been wondering what 2 wear I love our noon rendezvous I…
Oliver's House She said Oliver is leaving soon so he can make…
One Day Oh, there he is Ooh, he looks better every time I…
Pride And The Passion In a flash, he caught her eye He was everything…
Romance 1600 I was all alone When the doorbell rang Going for…
Sex Cymbal Psyche! (Sex Cymbal) (Sex Cymbal) There's a rumor about the …
Sister Fate There's a nasty rumor That's goin' 'round People think that…
The Belle Of St Mark The belle of St. Mark was a frail but a…
The Glamorous Life She wears a long fur coat of mink Even in…
The Glamorous Life (Re-Recorded) She wears a long fur coat of mink Even in the…
The Glamorous Life * She wears a long fur coat of mink Even in…
Toy Box Sister's got a place she goes whenever she's lonely It's so…
Wednesday Like A River Tuesday I surrendered beneath the willow tree When I gave…
Yellow Every girl of culture's got a favorite car The kind of…