Please join the Albumism team in celebrating Sheila E.’s musical legacy and revisit audio & video highlights from her career below!

Born: December 12, 1957

Biography: During the mid-'80s, Sheila E. was the biggest and brightest of Prince's protégées, unique in seeming that she could stand toe to toe with the Purple One. Certainly during his post-Revolution tours of the late '80s, Prince showcased Sheila E., the culmination of an association that began when Prince wrote and co-produced her 1984 breakthrough, "The Glamorous Life," and duetted on "A Love Bizarre," the 1985 follow-up that was her second-biggest hit. This close association often framed Sheila E.'s career entirely in terms of Prince, but she was a successful musician prior to entering his orbit, recording with George Duke and touring with Marvin Gaye, and she worked steadily afterward, touring with the likes of Ringo Starr and recording her own albums.

As the daughter of legendary jazz percussionist Pete Escovedo, Sheila E. -- born Sheila Cecelia Escovedo on December 12, 1957 -- was born into a musical family that also included her uncle Alejandro Escovedo. Sheila E. began her professional career just prior to her 20th birthday, playing percussion on 1976 albums by Alphonso Johnson (Yesterday's Dreams) and Merl Saunders (You Can Leave Your Hat On) and her father's 1977 session, Solo Two. She joined George Duke's band in 1977 and moonlighted on sessions by Con Funk Shun, the Rowans, and Herbie Hancock. During the early '80s, she continued to play studio sessions, then landed a spot in Marvin Gaye's touring band in 1983. [Read Sheila E.’s full bio via AllMusic]

Discography (Studio Albums):

The Glamorous Life (1984) | Read More

Romance 1600 (1985)

Sheila E. (1987)

Sex Cymbal (1991)

Writes of Passage (2000)

Heaven (2001)

Icon (2013)

Iconic: Message 4 America (2017)

Recommended Listening: