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Sheila E.

1957–

United States

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Biography

Sheila Cecilia Escovedo (born December 12, 1957), known under the stage name Sheila E., is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actress. Regarded as one of the greatest percussionists of her generation, she is a multi-instrumentalist known for playing drums and percussion. She is sometimes referred to as the "Queen of Percussion". Her music incorporates a wide variety of styles, including R&B, funk, jazz, pop, synth-pop, latin pop, and salsa. Born and raised in Oakland, California, Sheila began her music career as a percussionist for the George Duke Band from 1976 to 1980. She rose to mainstream success with release of her debut album, The Glamorous Life (1984), on Warner Bros. Records. The album's singles "The Glamorous Life" and "The Belle of St. Mark" became international hits. The album earned four Grammy Award nominations, including one for Best New Artist.

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Biography text · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source checked 2026-10-20

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