Clive Davis is famous for his annual pre-Grammy show featuring dozens of music stars. But—and I hate to say it—he was at least matched, if not outdone, on Saturday night down at the Atlantis Hotel celebration in the Bahamas.

This was only one night after Patti Labelle taped her 60th birthday special at the hotel for airing on UPN with stars like Ashanti, Michael McDonald, Kelly Rowland and Nelly (see Monday’s column).

The next night was a combination of two 70th birthdays—Sol Kerzner, who owns the Atlantis, and Sam “Soul Man” Moore. Here was the lineup of performers, who played the smallish Coral Room at Atlantis for about 500 people: Moore, Billy Preston, Sheila E. with Emilio Estefan (husband of Gloria), Chaka Khan, Lionel Richie, The O’Jays with Gerald Levert, Oleta Adams, Ashford and Simpson with Michael McDonald, Gloria Gaynor, Bebe Winans, and Patti Labelle again.

In the audience: Denzel Washington with wife Pauletta and six burly bodyguards.

As Kerzner resorts’ Jerry Inzerillo said, there were nine members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, each performing their own #1 hits. It was quite a gathering. The highlights were many: Moore and McDonald on “When Something is Wrong with My Baby,” with Billy Preston on keyboards. When Sheila E. joined them on drums for “Soul Man” the song was changed at the end into “Sol Man”—a birthday treat from one guest of honor to the other.

There was no sampling. No one used a guide vocal, a computer, a pre recorded track, or a fake anything. It was all spontaneous, with music master Greg Phillinganes—now also in the reformed, revived Toto—leading an incredibly talented band and three back up singers. Everyone sang on key, too. How old fashioned!

The O’Jays did an extended funky version of "For the Love of Money." Chaka Khan wailed like a mutha, as they say, through "Tell Me Something Good" and "Ain’t Nobody. "When she did "I’m Every Woman," Valerie Simpson and Nick Ashford—who wrote it—danced in front of the stage. It was about three feet away from them. It was that kind of night.

The couple also helped McDonald through their songs, "Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing" and "Ain’t No Mountain High Enough." People at the tables around us kept saying, "They wrote that one, too?” Yes, they did, all by themselves.

Sheila E. and Emilio Estefan set up their drums in the audience so they could add to Richie doing “All Night Long.” (There wasn’t enough room on the stage.) Who knew Emilio was so good? Sheila E told me later she’s making a new album, and Prince—her original mentor— is giving her a helping hand.

The night was so hopped up with knock out performers but there was time to introduce a new singer, too, who’s making a name for herself in Nashville. Shanna Crooks, who might give Jessica Simpson and some other young divas a run for their money when she’s signed, wowed the very experienced crowd with a song called “I’ll Be Your Escape.”

Ivana Trump, Bebe Buell, Denise Rich, Evander Holyfield and Butch Lewis were among those who helped sing Happy Birthday to Kerzner along with a wild Junkanoo band. Billy Preston, who has no functioning kidneys, rocked the house with "Nothing from Nothing" and "Will it Go Round in Circles." Preston—the "fifth Beatle"— joined Richie on a couple of his songs like "Brickhouse" and "Dancing on the Ceiling," playing on an organ that Kerzner had imported from Miami just for the night, for him.

Even Denzel’s bodyguards had a good time! More tomorrow from this music-filled weekend at the Atlantis…

Sheila E told me later that she's making a new album,and Prince-her original mentor-is giving her a helping hand

Excellent if Shelia is going to work with Prince again.

who the hell needs SIX boduguards ?!?!?!?!?!?!

piemel said:

it's only until after his hip replacement surgery...

laurarichardson said:

Now, this is NEWS!

DavidEye said:

Best news I've heard all week! Prince and Sheila collaborating again!!!

I'm not sure how much they "collaborated" in the past. It was more like Prince wrote the songs and played the music and she sang over it. This sounds kinda cool, but don't expect another Glamorous Life from a true collaboration.

I'd love to see him use the name Jamie Starr if he does this

intha916 said:

Why

ontheonevegas said:

Why not.

DavidEye said:

hip, hip, hooray!!!!!

so cool.....

laurarichardson said:

Emilio Estefan? He was great in Repo Man, but I don't think he's Sheila's type.

Great news about the P and Sheila wrekka, let's see what makes it to disc...

I knew there was somethin' cookin' in the Prince camp, and it now very briefly hints toward a repeat of 1984, or something even better.

FunkiestOne said:

First, this is great news!!!! Is either the Patti b-day show or this one going to air on tv and when?

Second, the comment above is somewhat "ig'nant".....

Seriously, Prince wasn't rockin' the Timbales, congas, bongos, and various percussion on Sheila's 1st album..... it was the lady herself (even if P did program the Linn for the basic back beat)..... and the Latin percussion, even if sublte to the average listener, really takes the album to a whole other level.

There's tons of cool syncopation and little things that you really notice when you listen to songs like Oliver's House, the 2nd half of Glam Life etc.

Judging form the last 2 albums of spiritual elevator music that Sheila released, some help from Prince would be excellent. The difference between her work with Prince and her work without Prince is glaring. Sex Cymbol was almost a complete load of crap. The first 3 albums were great - the last 2 were Paisley park productions and everyone knows the Glamorous Life.

Zelaira said:

it's APOLLONIA. one p, two l's.
and it's SHEILA. not Shelia.

FunkiestOne said:

Nobody has mentioned "Erotic City"!!... I know it wasn't much of a collaboration but Sheila's backing/co vocals totally "make" that track... And yes, I'm not expecting anything adult-oriented but that song STILL gets as much radio/club play as any other Prince tune.

laurarichardson said:

1. Was her actual quote "my next album will include an appearance by a very special surprise guest!" ?? (sorry, couldn't resist )

2. OK, this is cool, but didn't Wendy say quite awhile ago that they were going to record with Prince (in fact, in EW magazine in early 2004, she was quoted as saying they were doing an album together)? What happened to that, will something be on Prince's next album, or their next album?

sonofblade said:

I totally agree.Her last 2 albums were boring,imo (a remake of a Richard Marx tune??).Hopefully,Prince will have her gettin' funky again.

As for 'Sex Cymbal'...I think half of it is good,half of it is uninspired.

dawntreader said:

I'm in Love!!!!

dawntreader said:

Great job! Only, what? Two hundred thousand more posts to go and you'll have corrected all of the spelling errors on the site. Then you can work on your own sentence structure while you're at it.

(You make a big assumption by thinking that people don't know how to spell-- especially with the "Shelia" bit-- and an even bigger one that they care.)

whodknee said:

it's all because of the "whose name is misspelled on the org most" thread.

Didnt P and Sheila already record a jazz Cd in 2003?

Wow, this is fab news, esp with P doing the jazz thing, and Sheila's, of course, been playing latin jazz for some time now.
Really looking forward to this CD!!