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Sheila Escovedo, known in the artistic world as Sheila E., was just five years old when she made her first public performance alongside her father, percussionist Pete Escovedo, in front of about 3,000 people. Sixty years later, she is a renowned artist with a successful career as a drummer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist. Last July, she received her star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame, an honor that adds to her long list of well-deserved accolades.
The artist, with Mexican and French Creole ancestry, is the eldest of four siblings, and she grew up in Oakland, California, in a family of musicians. The famous Puerto Rican jazz musician Tito Puente was her godfather. With these influences, it is no surprise that she discovered her passion for music at a young age, particularly for percussion instruments. However, her journey was not easy as she faced many “nos” because of her gender. “Who said that girls can play the drums?” she recalled in a conversation with USA Today.
I took those words as opportunities. Even when I couldn’t afford the rent, all those ‘no’s’ compelled me to work harder and be better,” she recalled.
Using doubt as her motivation, she didn’t stop pursuing her dreams and improving her talent. It all paid off in 1984 with her debut album “The Glamorous Life,” which received multiple Grammy nominations. Her impressive mastery led her to collaborate with some of the biggest music stars, including Lionel Richie, Ringo Starr, Diana Ross, Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, Santana, and the one and only Prince, whom she had both a musical and romantic connection within the mid-1970s.
Nominated for an Emmy twice, Sheila also served as the musical director for “In Performance at the White House: Fiesta Latina” during President Barack Obama’s administration in 2009. Her music has made its way into the soundtracks of blockbuster films like “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” (2016) alongside artists like Hans Zimmer. In 2021, she and her father, Pete, were honored at the Latin Grammy Awards with the Musical Excellence Award.