シーラ・E (Sheila E.)

Sheila E.
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.

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 Lionel Richie, Marvin Gaye, Herbie Hancock, and Diana Ross by the time she was in her early twenties.

The story goes Prince met Sheila performing at a concert with her father in the early 80's 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) and "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 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 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...
(Wikipedia: Sheila E.)