Sheila Escovedo was born into a musical family. The eldest child of Pete and Juanita Escovedo (she has two brothers, Juan and Peter Michael, and one sister, Zina), she started playing with the family instruments at the age of 3.

Sheila was obviously influenced by her father, Latin jazz legend and timbalero Pete Escovedo (then band leader of the influential band Azteca) while watching him rehearse. At the age of five, she made her concert “debut” at the former Sands Ballroom in Oakland, when she was invited on stage by her father to play a solo in front of an audience of 3,000. At that moment, Sheila knew exactly what she wanted to do: she was going to be a percussionist.

Family, faith and music were guiding forces for Sheila E. growing up in Oakland, California (“the Bay Area”). In addition to percussionist dad Pete, she counts former Santana member/Azteca founder, Coke Escovedo and The Dragons frontman, Mario Escovedo as uncles. Fellow Latin star Tito Puente was her godfather. In addition to being weaned on Latin jazz and Motown, Sheila E. was exposed to an array of Bay Area acts. Those influences ranged from the rock of Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead to the R&B/pop of the Pointer Sisters and the funk of Sly & the Family Stone. “I used to sit on the corner outside of the local community center with Twinkies and 7-Up listening to Sly and Larry Graham rehearse,” remembers Sheila E. “The sounds of the Bay Area molded me.”

From the age of 17, Sheila recorded and toured extensively with renowned artists such as Billy Cobham, Natalie Cole, George Duke, Pete Escovedo, Gloria Estefan, Marvin Gaye, Herbie Hancock, Stevie Nicks, Patti LaBelle, Cyndi Lauper, Prince, Lionel Richie, Diana Ross, Ringo Starr, Tito Puente, Don Was, and Stevie Wonder.

Following a Bay Area gig in the late ‘70s, Sheila E. met mentor Prince backstage. The “Purple Rain” recording sessions – including Sheila E.’s vocals on the 1984 classic “Erotic City” – helped launch her solo career that same year. In 1983, Sheila changed her name to “Sheila E.” and Prince helped her record her first solo album. The first single from the album, “The Glamorous Life”, was released in the spring of 1984 and earned popular and critical acclaim. This single went on to receive multiple Grammy and American Music Award nominations, and won MTV’s Best Video Award. “The Glamorous Life” album not only yielded a hit single with the title track, but also another hit with its follow-up single, “The Belle of St. Mark“.

After three months of sold out performances in Europe and the United States, Sheila began touring as the opening act for Prince’s 1984-85 sold out Purple Rain Tour, all this while composing her follow-up album, “Romance 1600“. Released in August of 1985, “Romance 1600” raced up the charts with its mega-single “A Love Bizarre“. A three-month engagement, opening for Lionel Richie, followed a headlining tour in the spring of 1986. A video of her March 1986 San Francisco performance (called “Romance 1600 Live“) was released later that year.

In 1986, Sheila made her acting debut in the motion picture “Krush Groove”, and contributed to its soundtrack with the song “Holly Rock“. Soon after, she released her third album simply titled “Sheila E.”, which included yet another smash single, “Hold Me“, which went to #1 on Billboard’s chart and had a fast-growing international reputation. Instead of touring to support her own album, however, Sheila joined Prince’s band, playing drums and percussion, for his European tour supporting his album “Sign o’ the Times“, a tour that Rolling Stone Magazine readers rated as the 15th best tour in music history. Showing her strong family roots and love for Latin jazz, she joined her father, Pete Escovedo, and fellow Latin jazz legend, the great Tito Puente, on a special concert which deviated from the pop and funk music she had become popular with. Later released on video and CD as “Latina Familia“, the performance showcased her skills as a virtuoso musician. In 1988 and 1989, Sheila toured again with Prince on his “Lovesexy” World Tour, playing drums and percussion.

The following year, she appeared in the Andrew Dice Clay comedy “The Adventures of Ford Fairlane” and in 1991 she released her fourth album “Sex Cymbal”. The album, which was largely produced by her younger brother Peter Michael, included two singles accompanied by brilliant videos: the title track, and “Droppin’ Like Flies“.

After taking several years off for health reasons, Sheila’s next project, the E-Train, started in 1994. The band that played a mixture of soul, Latin jazz, funk, fusion and gospel toured in Europe in 1994, and finally released a CD, entitled “Writes of Passage” in 1998.

In 1998, Sheila became the first female bandleader on Magic Johnson’s late night TV variety show, “The Magic Hour”, and co-wrote and co-produced the show’s theme song.

Sheila has played on countless albums, including the soundtrack to “Prince of Egypt”, featuring Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, successful Japanese artist Namie Amuro (whom she also toured with in 1996 and 2002) and Gloria Estefan‘s hugely successful “Mi Tierra“.

Among her other notable appearances, Sheila performed at the 35th Annual Academy Awards with the incomparable Placido Domingo, the 1996 Summer Olympics and was featured in the “all girl” Grammy production opening number featuring Ellen De Generes. Other notable performances included MTV Unplugged with Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, and “The Concert of The Americas“, where past and present U.S. Presidents and their families were in attendance. She appeared as “featured artist” with Jennifer Lopez on her promotional tour in 1999 and performed with Prince, Wendy & Lisa at the 2006 Brit Awards with a viewing audience of over 20 million.

In 2004 Sheila joined Prince on the “Musicology” tour, which was seen by 1.5 million people. She also performed “The Glamorous Life” at the 7th Annual VH1 Divas, a benefit concert for the VH1 Save the Music Foundation that was televised worldwide. In the Summer of 2006 Sheila toured for the third time with the legendary Ringo Starr.

The same year, together with Cassandra O’Neal (keyboards), Rhonda Smith (bass) and Kat Dyson (guitar), Sheila E. formed an all girls band called C. O. E. D. (Chronicles Of Every Diva), with whom she toured worldwide.

On October 13th 2009 Sheila E. was part of “In Performance at the White House: Fiesta Latina“, a concert hosted by the President and Mrs. Obama on the South Lawn of the White House, celebrating Hispanic musical heritage and aired on the final day of National Hispanic Heritage Month on PBS. Sheila E. shared the stage with the world’s most famous “Latin” performers, including Gloria Estefan, Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez and many others.

2011 saw the release of the E Family’s critically acclaimed “Now & Forever” album, that featured special guest appearances from Sheila’s friends Joss Stone, Raphael Saadiq, George Duke, Earth, Wind & Fire and many more.

In 2012 Sheila E. performed at the Academy Awards with hit-maker Pharrell Williams and composer Hans Zimmer. She was also among the stars chosen to perform at the Kennedy Center Honors, whose 2013 honorees included artists Herbie Hancock, Billy Joel and Carlos Santana.

Following the 2013 release of her album “Icon” and the 2014 release of her biography titled “The Beat of My Own Drum: A Memoir”, Sheila just released her latest album titled “Iconic”. It features some of the greatest “classic” protest and revolution songs that Sheila reinvented to fit the current troubled times we’re living in.

Past Shows

• May 15th 2021, Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, NV, USA
• Dec 28th 2019, The Dallas Events Center @Texas Station Gambling Hall & Hotel, North Las Vegas, USA
• Dec 12th 2019, First Avenue, Minneapolis, USA
• Nov 30th & Dec 1st 2019, Austin Area Jazz Festival, Austin, USA
• Nov 12th 2019, Muziekgebouw, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
• Nov 11th 2019, Theaterstübchen, Kassel, Germany
• Nov 9th 2019, JazzFest, Aalen, Germany

• Nov 8th 2019, De Vorstin, Hiversum, The Netherlands
• Nov 7th 2019, Podium Victorie, Alkmaar, The Netherlands
• Nov 6th 2019, Q- Factory, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• Nov 5th 2019, De Casino, Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
• Nov 3rd 2019, Poppodium Grenswerk, Venlo, The Netherlands
• Nov 2nd 2019, Gebr De Nobel, Leiden, The Netherlands
• Nov 1st 2019, Metropool, Hengelo, The Netherlands
• Oct 31st 2019, Porgy & Bess, Vienna, Austria
• Oct 29th 2019, Jazztage, Dresden, Germany
• Oct 24th 2019, Orlando, FL, USA
• Oct 11th 2019, Morongo, Cabazon, CA, USA
• Oct 6th 2019, Howard Theater, Washington DC, USA
• Oct 5th 2019, OneBurgh, Pittsburgh, USA
• Oct 4th 2019, Sony Hall, New York, USA
• Sep 14th 2019, Concord Pavillion, Concord, USA
• Aug 23rd 2019, Norfolk Waterfront Jazz Festival, USA
• Aug 16th 2019, Kentucky State Fair, Louisville, USA
• Aug 2nd 2019, Byham Theater, Pittsburgh, USA
• Jul 27th 2019, Northlands, Edmonton, Canada
• Jul 26th 2019, Interstellar Rodeo, Calgary, Canada
• Jul 24th 2019, Cadence Bank Amphitheater, Atlanta, USA
• Jul 20th 2019, Pershing Square, Los Angeles, USA
• Jul 13th 2019, Bluesfest Windsor Ontario, Canada
• Jul 5th 2019, Essence Festival, New Orleans, USA
• Jun 27th 2019, Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort, Seattle, USA
• Jun 26th 2019, Alameda County Fair, Pleasanton, USA
• Jun 23rd 2019, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, USA
• Jun 14th 2019, Oklahoma State University, OSU Lawn Tulsa, USA
• Jun 13th 2019, Ceasar’s Palace, Las Vegas, USA
• Jun 9th 2019, Hollywood Bowl, Playboy Jazz Festival, Hollywood, USA
• Jun 7th 2019, Lincoln Theater (Indoor), Yountville, USA
• May 30th 2019, Stage AE, Pittsburgh, USA
• May 26th 2019, Mable House Barnes Amphitheater, Mableton, USA
• May 18th 2019, The Carolina Theatre, Durham, USA
• Apr 27th 2019, Phoenix Convention Center (North Ballroom), Phoenix, USA
• Apr 20th 2019, Chicago Market Hammond, USA
• Mar 30th 2019, Apache Gold Casino, San Carlos, USA
• Mar 14-20th 2019 Costa Mujeres, Grand Palladium Resort Cancun, Mexico
• Mar 11 2019, Paisley Park Studios Minneapolis, USA
• Mar 2-9^th 2019, 80’s Cruise, Various (Cruise)
• Feb 15th 2019, Sycuan Casino, El Cajon, USA
• Feb 7^th 2019, Sound Board at Motor City Casino, Detroit, USA
• Dec 28th 2018, The Blue Note, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
• Dec 6th 2018, Feather Falls Brewing Company, Oroville, California, USA
• Oct 27th 2018, Casino Live, Hanover, Virginia, USA
• Oct 20th 2018, Capitol Mall, Salem, Oregon, USA
• Oct 19th 2018, Clearwater Jazz Holiday, w/ The Doobie Brothers, George Thorogood & The Destroyers, JJ GREY and MOFRO, Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers, The Devil Makes Three, Morris Day & The Time, Clearwater, Florida, USA
• Oct 18th 2018, MAD Amphitheater, El Dorado, Arkansas, USA
• Oct 13th 2018, Tony Toni Tone & Sheila E & Deniece Williams, Bronx, New York, USA
• Oct 12th 2018, Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, Illinois, USA
• Sept 29th 2018, ¡SOMOS PEORIA!, Peoria, Arizona, USA
• Sept 23rd 2018, Disney World, Orlando, Florida, USA
• Sept 22nd 2018, Eat to the Beat, Orlando, Florida, USA
• Sept 12th 2018, Tulare County Fair’s 2018, Tulare, California, USA
• Sept 8th 2018, Pittsburg Seafood and Music Festival, Pittsburgh, California, USA
• Sept 2nd 2018, 8th Annual John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival w/ Pete Escovedo & Sheila Escovedo
  High Point, North Carolina, US
• Aug 23rd 2018, Performing Arts Center, Rahway, New Jersey, USA
• Aug 18th 2018, Chene Park Amphitheater, Detroit, Michigan, USA
• Aug 17th 2018, Antelope Valley Fair, Lancaster, California, USA
• Aug 16th 2018, Hard Rock Rocksino, Northfield, Ohio, USA
• August 12th 2018, Portsmouth Pavilion, Portsmouth, Virginia, USA
• July 21st 2018, Winter Park Jazz Festival-Hideway Park, Winter Park, Colorado, USA
• July 14th 2018, Santa Barbara County Fair, Santa Maria, California, USA
• February 16th 2018, Koger Centre for the Arts, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
• January 27th 2018, Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, Warren, Michigan, USA
• January 14th 2018, Rialto Theatre, Tucson, Arizona, USA