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Sheila E. started playing percussion when she was 3 years old under the influence of her Latin jazz timbalero father Pete Escovedo who was the bandleader of the group Azteca. At age 17 she started touring with artists like Lionel Richie, Diana Ross and George Duke among others. In the ’80’s she began working with Prince during the Purple Rain recording sessions. It is her vocals that are heard with Prince on his classic “Erotic City.” In 1984 her first solo album The Glamorous Life was released and “The Belle Of St. Mark” and “The Glamorous Life” were hit songs. Romance 1600 was her second album and it was released in 1985 with the gem of the set being “A Love Bizarre.” She performed the song in the film “Krush Groove” that also came out in 1985. The musician released another album in the ’80’s and appeared in four films including Prince’s concert film “Sign Of The Times.” Between 1991 and 2001 Sheila E. recorded three albums but they never garnered the attention that her work with others did. Magic Johnson’s “The Magic Hour” TV show made her the first female bandleader on late night television in 1998. Her talents are continually in demand at events with Prince and several other artists. She is also the co-founder of the Elevate Hope foundation for abused children. Her most recent accomplishment was her participation in the television show “Gone Country” with the goal of creating a hit single.
