Who is Sheila E? All about the drummer and singer as she performs with John Legend at DNC'24

Singer and drummer Sheila E. joined John Legend on the stage on the third night of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) 2024 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. They performed a duet of late pop-rock icon Prince’s famous single Let’s Go Crazy.

While Legend wore a Balmain ensemble including a white blazer with a black sequinned lapel over a black button-down shirt, matching pants, and shimmery shoes; Sheila E. wore a white high-low flowy skort paired with a blazer-style top, alongside matching sneakers.

Following their rendition of Prince’s song, Minnesota Governor and Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate Tim Walz joined them on stage, and expressed his gratitude to the duo for paying tribute to his state and its legendary musician.

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Everything you need to know about Sheila E’s life and career

Sheila E. is an American singer and drummer whose real name is Sheila Cecelia Escovedo. She was born and raised in a musical family of Mexican and French Creole ethnicity in Oakland, California. Her father Pete Escovedo was a renowned Mexican-American jazz percussionist and her godfather was musician Tito Puente.

Some of the other famous musicians from her family include her uncles Javier and Alejandro Escovedo, who founded the punk groups The Zeros and The Nuns, respectively. The Dragons founder Mario Escovedo and Azteca co-founder Coke Escovedo were also her relatives. Lionel Richie’s adoptive daughter Nicole is her biological niece.

The now-66-year-old began pursuing music as a young girl and found her forte in drumming. At 15, she performed for her father’s Latin rock/funk band Azteca and played congas for them on several tours. Later, the Los Angeles-based drummer worked alongside musicians Herbie Hancock and George Duke, before meeting Prince at a concert backstage.

Her chance encounter with Prince gave a breakthrough in her career as she soon became a musical and brief romantic partner for the singer. In 1984, the duo released a joint single Erotic City followed by her debut solo album The Glamorous Life, which Prince helped her compile. It earned Sheila E. her first and multiple Grammy nominations.

Subsequently, the Hall of Fame percussionist opened for Prince’s various tours, including Purple Rain, Sign O,’ The Times, and Loves*xy, while also embarking on her solo career. Over the years, she has recorded and performed several albums, including Latina Familia, Romance 1600, S*x Cymbal, Writes of Passage, Heaven, and Icon.

Some of her popular singles include Sister Fate, The Belle of St. Mark, Holly Rock, A Love Bizarre, Hold Me, and Droppin’ Like Flies among others. Soundtrack of movies such as Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was also done by the Emmy nominee. In 1994, she also founded the soul-Latin jazz-funk-gospel fusion group E-Train and later the music production firm HEAVEN PRODUCTIONS.

Sheila E. also partnered with the likes of Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan, Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, and Namie Amuro throughout her career. She received Howard University’s Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority recognition in 2009 for her humanitarian contribution to music.

In 2021, Sheila E. and her father were honored with the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Two years later, she earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Also, a philanthropist, Sheila, and her friend and singer Lynn Mabry co-founded the non-profit Elevate Hope Foundation (now Elevate Oakland) aimed to use music and art to empower marginalized youth in their hometown.

Sheila E. has also worked as the music director of In Performance at the White House: Fiesta Latina during Barack Obama’s presidency in 2009 and has also served as the 2012 Academy Awards house band. In 2015, she wrote her autobiography, The Beat of My Own Drum: A Memoir.