Sheila E.

Percussionist, singer and composer born in Oakland, California in 1957, Sheila Escovedo grew up in a family of Latin and jazz musicians and developed an early timbales and drum style influenced by Afro‑Latin rhythms. Performing as Sheila E., she first gained notice on the West Coast funk, jazz‑fusion and R&B scenes — notably alongside George Duke and with the family groups Escovedo — before expanding her work as a studio and touring musician. The major turning point came in the early 1980s with her collaboration with Prince, who brought her into his stage and studio world and opened the way for a solo career. Sheila E. released the album The Glamorous Life in 1984, led by the title track, followed by Romance 1600 in 1985 and Sheila E. in 1987, where funk‑pop, Minneapolis sounds, rock influences and Latin rhythmic signatures converge. The record Sex Cymbal (1991) moves toward a more contemporary R&B, while Writes of Passage (2000) marks a period in which Sheila E. blends spiritual dimensions with jazz and Latin music. Across the 2000s and 2010s she alternated personal projects — including the album Icon (2013) and Iconic: Message 4 America (2017) — with a regular role as percussionist, musical director and vocalist for various pop, soul and R&B artists, maintaining a strong stage presence in the United States and on international tours.