Sheila Escovedo picked up the drumsticks and started making music at the precocious age of three. Sheila delivered her first solo performance to a live audience two years later and has since established herself as one of the most talented percussionist/drummers and performers in the world. Best known to music fans as Sheila E., she became a top session and touring musician before the age of 20, performing and/or recording with George Duke, Herbie Hancock, Billy Cobham, Con Funk Shun, Marvin Gaye (on his final world tour), Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, Gloria Estefan, Patti LaBelle, and Steve Nicks among others.
In the 1980’s, Sheila’s collaboration with the artist Prince helped to catapult her to her own pop superstardom. Her obvious talent and hits like “The Glamorous Life” and “Love Bizarre,” in conjunction with her pivotal work on other Prince-related projects, contributed to her international stardom. Particularly proud moments during this period include her participation in the 1985 “We Are The World” session, Grammy, American Music Awards and MTV nominations, worldwide sold-out performances, and the memorable performance on The Oscars with virtuoso Placido Domingo,
In 1998 Sheila E. made history becoming television’s first female musical director for Magic Johnson’s The Magic Hour. Future television show engagements would include being a celebrity judge on Fox’s The Next Great American Band in 2007-2008, and being chosen as the winner of Gone Country 3 in 2009, on CMT. In recognition of drumming and percussion, Sheila designed the “ClassE” Custom Series for adults, and the “Sheila E.’s Player Series,” for children, with renowned TOCA Percussions, distributed by Kaman Music.
Sheila E.'s producing, arranging, and performance talents have been showcased throughout the music and film industry with appearances on, The Academy Awards, The Latin Grammy Awards, BET Awards, The American Music Awards, The Kennedy Center Honors, The Summer Olympics, WOW Awards, ALMA's, and The Image Awards just to name a few. In 2010 Sheila was nominated for an Emmy Award for “Outstanding Music Direction” in recognition for her leadership as musical director for President Obama’s Performance at The White House: Fiesta Latina.
Her more recent projects, include The E Family Now and Forever, Pete Escovedo Live at Stern Grove Festival with her father Pete Escovedo, and brothers Juan and Peter Michael Escovedo, Sheila E. Live from Lugano Switzerland DVD, Silk Road from the group Heavenese hailing from Japan, a literary biography released by Simon & Schuster Publishing titled The Beat of My Own Drum, ICON Sheila's 2014 solo album and the single release Girl Meets Boy in memory of the late, great, Prince.
Sheila E. continues to produce and perform music throughout the world. Her current studio project and tour, ICONIC, is Sheila's continued contribution to the music industry and her efforts in awareness to social issues and humanitarianism. Sheila E. is CEO of the entertainment company StilettoFlats Inc. located in Los Angeles California.
