DesireeNevermind said:

Congrats Sheila on winning CMT's Gone Country season 3,
[Edited 3/9/09 10:12am]

You’d already had experience recording and touring with your father Pete Escovedo, and with George Duke, several years before ‘The Glamorous Life’ came out. What were you doing when Prince entered the picture?

Well, I met him in 1978. Around that time, I was out on tour with George Duke. I went to see him at one of his concerts and I was so excited because I’d been hearing about him. My dad was with Santana then, and the whole Santana band was bragging about this guy – this young kid – who was producing and recording by himself, playing all the instruments and writing the songs. There was a big buzz in the Bay Area about that. So I couldn’t wait to meet him. I went to his concert, and was walking up to him to introduce myself. I was still Sheila Escovedo at that time. He turned around and put his hand out and said “Wow, it’s a pleasure to meet you!” I thought “Ok…I was just getting ready to introduce myself.” He just kind of threw me off, and he told me he had been following my career for a long time. He had been watching George Duke and saw me playing drums, and him and Andre Simone were arguing about who was gonna marry me. (laughs)

Did you handle the sudden success well, when ‘The Glamorous Life’ hit big?

I tried my best. It really happened so quickly. It was overwhelming. You almost want to say “I wish I would have known then, what I know now.” I would have dealt with some things differently – with people, especially. I see how you get caught in being a celebrity. Fame can destroy you. It got to be very difficult. I basically couldn’t go anywhere. I couldn’t even go to the mall. They’d have to close me in one of the stores because there’d be two thousand kids screaming, trying to get my autograph. I think the strange thing about it, too, was when we put the record out I immediately went to Europe and did press and toured out there for a month or two before we came back here. I had no idea the song was being played like it was. I had no idea how much things had changed in two months.

What a surprise to come back to.

Oh, absolutely!

Do you get a chance to watch Vh-1 Classic now and then?

Yes I do.

I’d think you still get a kick out of seeing the video in rotation.

When you look at it, it’s such a part of my life. I just remember it as if it was this morning. Really. Not even yesterday. I can tell you what we were doing. The whole thing – the excitement! I look at it and go “God, that was my first record”, and I’m just excited about it. And that’s basically how I live every day. “Oh my God, this is going to be fun.” You know, you have to really enjoy yourself. And learn by the mistakes, of course, but it’s been a wonderful journey.

It certainly didn’t hurt to have Prince in your corner when you kicked off your solo career, but did his influence ever become smothering?

No, uh-uh. What attracted us to each other was the music. At the time I met him, he started coming and hanging around with my family because I was playing with my dad off and on, and he was like “Wow.” He had never seen anything like that, or heard anything like that. To see the family playing together is a dream-come- true for a lot of people, a lot of artists. It was something that we had that was very special and unique. He was attracted to that, he was attracted to the different types of music that I grew up listening to, and our lives are worlds apart. We were never smothered by each other, him by me or me by him. If anything, we’ve learned a lot, shared a lot and given to each other.

How is it that, twenty years on, you’re just about the only one who still maintains a working relationship with Prince?

I don’t know. We were friends first, and I’ve been with him almost from the beginning, I guess, pretty much throughout his career. There were a couple of years we didn’t see each other, and then in ’83, when I was with Lionel [Richie] and Marvin [Gaye], we got together again and started working. It was just great. Again, it’s really the music that brought us together. The fun part about being his friend was I think he hadn’t met anyone who was as competitive as he was. And being a woman, he was like “Oh, I have to beat her!” It was that kind of thing. Growing up in a family that was very competitive - my mom and all her brothers and sisters were very athletic – I was very athletic, and so was Prince. We’d play basketball, we’d play ping pong, we’d play pool – we did everything besides recording music. And so I was able to hang with him as a buddy, almost - as a friend.

thanks Oldf for posting the interview She truly was/is his equal. He'll never find another like her.

Sheila E. Glams It Up At The Conga Room

Prince was in the Room 2

The Glamorous Life
&
HollyRock

http://www.drfunkenberry..../sheila-e/

Sheila E @ the Congo Room
with DJ Rashida








[Edited 3/17/09 11:14am]

Very beautiful thread I've always loved Sheila's work-she's wonderful. Prince should have made this lady the first and only Mrs. Nelson-they would have been great together.

[Edited 3/19/09 5:57am]

wow,what an awesome thread.

OldFriends4Sale said:

I love the pic on the bottom...she so looks like an angel and that sofa back are her wings. Pretty Pretty. Dayum if only she liked dudes and Prince wasn't a playa they would have been a perfect romantic match.

DesireeNevermind said:

U think she is lesbian? A fellow fan/friends hinted at the same... interesting

OldFriends4Sale said:

I been hearing this for as long as I can remember. She's never had a steady boyfriend other than Prince, or at least its not been reported and there have been no sightings of her on a date with a man. She supposed had been sighted at gay clubs in Oakland and SF back in the 80s. Couple that with her trauma of being raped as a child by a cousin and a babysitter, its not unlikely that she's lesbo.

Hey Sheila

DesireeNevermind said:

She can rock the hell out of those cute little dresses and shoes. She makes 50 look damned good.

DesireeNevermind said:

Maybe she's bi-sexual....or at the very least, a private woman who is simply careful about who she shares her business with. In any event I do agree that this was the one chick P has ever been with that appears to be his match...at least artistically. I've always wondered why he's been which such dizzy broads playing Svengali when he coulda had THAT. But hell, all couples have their reasons for coming to an end.

OldFriends4Sale said:



Opening for Prince's Musicology Tour
Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
03 June 2004

The Band

Sheila E.: timbales and lead vocals
Raymond McKinley: bass
Bobby G.: guitar
Agape Jerry: guitar
Phil Davis: keyboards
Cat Grey: keyboards
John H. Roberts: drums
Randy Ellis: saxophone
Garrett Smith: trombone
Raymond Montiero: trumpet
Lynn Mabry: background vocals
Bridgette Bryant: background vocals


Songs

Jazz Intro
The Belle Of St. Mark
Oliver's House
A Love Bizarre
One Nation Under A Groove (Lynn Mabry)
I'll Take You There (Bridgette Bryant)
Holly Rock
Oakland Stroke
Alphabet St. / Transmississippi Rap
The Glamorous Life

[img][/img]

Unannounced to the public, Sheila E. and her 11-piece band opened for Prince at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA on June 3, 2004. She had rehearsed a 35 minute set especially for this show. Sheila as well as the band members were dancing while playing on the four aisles of the round stage that was set up in the center of the venue (choreography by Carol Hatchett). Sheila's timbale set (from her custom series) was set up at the center, with the other musicians in the four corners of the stage. The band featured two guitar players, two keyboard players (including Cat Grey from the Romance 1600 band), a full horn section (horn arrangements were done by Eddie M. who didn't play that night), Raymond McKinley on bass who played with Madhouse at the Family Jamm!, as well as Lynn Mabry and Bridgette Bryant on background vocals.
Around 8 pm the lights were dimmed and the musicians, all dressed in black suits, took their spots on stage and started playing a jazz groove to which Sheila walked in from the side entrance with a spotlight on her. She was wearing a leopard print coat with a long train, matching high-waisted pants, and a black top with a flower on one side.
Once she arrived at her timbales, the band changed into a funky groove and Sheila played for a bit, then took off her coat for "The Belle of St. Mark". During this song and the next, "Oliver's House", which was played slower than on the album but sounded really funky, she was dancing all around the stage. "A Love Bizarre" had a different arrangement with a cool guitar part and solos by Lynn Mabry ("One Nation Under A Groove") and Bridgette Bryant ("I'll take you there"). Sheila broke down the song several times and did the "Strawberry", "Whip Cream", "Jazz" and "New Part" instrumental parts. At the end of the song she threw her drumsticks in the audience. She asked if this had been a surprise and seeing the crowd's reaction it definitely was.
After one of Sheila's rousing timbale solos, the band went into a salsa jam, followed by a cool drum groove which turned into Holly Rock to which Sheila changed the lyrics into "Come on over to Sheila E.'s house". The next song, "Oakland Stroke", was a new addition to the set, and featured her horn section a lot.
For "Alphabet St." Sheila was wearing a leopard print jacket, and the horns and background singers came over to the center of the stage to dance. Instead of the usual rap part of the song Sheila did the Transmississippi rap from "Beautiful Night".
The encore, "Glamorous Life", was a crowd pleaser and had the audience sing along. It ended with another timbale solo during which Sheila broke several drum sticks.
Those who were lucky to catch Sheila's performance were treated to a well worked out show with lots of dancing and a bigger band than she normally has at her club shows. The huge stage in the round made it possible to accommodate all this and the whole performance felt like much more than an opening set.
Later that night, Sheila jammed with Prince during his aftershow at the House of Blues in Hollywood to a packed house. While playing many of her trademark timbale solos, she also played guitar and sang a duet with Prince on "A Love Bizarre". Sheila's manager, and former Brides of Funkenstein singer, Lynn Mabry, was also invited on stage by Prince to sing background vocals.


[Edited 3/20/09 8:31am]

DesireeNevermind said:

I follow your reasoning and it's possible, but at the same time for a woman of her career following and her sexual abuse past, not having a boyfriend is common. They just stay away from sex, men are made differently. That coupled with being in love with Prince and subjecting herself to that kind of competitive relationship with other women can cause a person to just avoid 'relationships' I don't think molestations 'changes' a person sexual orientation though. But I have thought that maybe she is lesbian or bisexual

There are women who faithful love a man for years 20+ who isn't committed to them. Sheila could be one of those women.
[Edited 3/20/09 8:39am]

OldFriends4Sale said:

IMHO she's too good for Prince. Too loyal, too kind, maybe too independent. I beleive he appreciates her as a fellow musician but maybe not as a girlfriend/partner. I think she could be bisexual or even asexual as in totally uninterested in either sex. But I disagree about molestation not changing your orientation...if ur as young as she was when the abuse happened, it could shape your orientation or skew it as it may not have been developed yet. Orientation is actuall a process by which someone is introduced, adjusted or guided into a situation, custom or environment. I think its a process that evolves, we grow into like we grow into our personalities. Just my on what I've seen and people I've talked to. Gosh what if Sheila doesn't love Prince, like AT ALL! Its so easy to think of Prince as the heartbreaker, maybe Sheila ultimately told him "thanks but no" .

DesireeNevermind said:

Baby, U think all my friends are my bedmates, yeah
I agree that it can skew a person perceptions, but I don't think it changes the sexual orientation. Most women either become loose or frigged. Depending on the degree. But most go on to have (healthy or unhealthy heterosexual relations) I don't remember the age, but I thought she was like 10 or something when it started. And it was a man that did it...

I think there may have been a small degree of romantic interest, but a lot of it I think is media hype. Like I've read where Sheila & Cat were 'fighting' over Prince's attention and what not. I don't believe that at all and I don't think either of them were sexually involved with Prince.

I strongly believe Sheila & Prince were good friends and still are.

I even remember talk of Wendy & Prince dating around 1985/86 but not until the Family & the Girls & Boys video did I realize Wendy had a twin (who Prince was dating)

Prince @ N.C.L.R. Alma Awards 6.1.07








[Edited 3/20/09 11:35am]

salaciousV said:

Love this thread.Sheila is by far my favorite associated artist.I think they have a beautiful friendship/working relationship.I often watch the ALMA performance as IMO it`s his best of the decade so far.They look really happy & relaxed in each others company.Much love 2 Seila E as she`s been his constant 4 the longest time!

Hold On 2 Ur Wigs!!

DesireeNevermind said:

from that Diva's show that was out some years ago





04/22/04 - Divas 2004
Sheila E. performed "The Glamorous Life" at the 7th Annual VH1 Divas. She was also featured as special guest during Cyndi Lauper's performance of "Stay". The benefit concert for the VH1 Save the Music Foundation featuring Patti LaBelle, Jessica Simpson, Joss Stone, Ashanti, Eve, Tom Jones, Gladys Knight, Debbie Harry of Blondie, and The Pussycat Dolls featuring Carmen Electra, was broadcast live from the MGM, Las Vegas on April 18, 2004.








[Edited 3/23/09 12:33pm]

OldFriends4Sale said:

Divas 2004
VH1 Divas: An Honors Concert for VH1's Save the Music, aired live from the MGM Grand Las Vegas on April 18th 2004. This was the final concert in the VH1 Divas Series.

in order of appearance)


Patti LaBelle
Jessica Simpson
Cyndi Lauper
Debbie Harry
Eve
Joss Stone
Ashanti
Sheila E.
The Pussycat Dolls (featuring Carmen Electra)
Tom Jones
Blondie
Gladys Knight
Presenters: Tyra Banks, Daryl Hannah, Rachel Bilson, Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth, Jessica Alba, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Nia Vardalos.
[Edited 3/23/09 12:16pm]

Noted musician Sheila E. won this season’s “Gone Country” on CMT over the weekend !

Sheila E, known for work with everyone from Prince to Gloria Estefan, says “I want to take advantage of this opportunity and I would love to do a country record”.

Following in the footsteps of previous ‘Gone Country’ stars Bobby Brown and Sisqo, Sheila E. is thinking about recording a few Country songs in Nashville.

Speaking with PEOPLE, Sheila says “I already contacted all of the writers who appeared on the show and I’m going back to Nashville to do a writing session at the end of March to come up with material.”

Sheila E. beat former American Idol Justin Guarini and Parliament Funkadelic star George Clinton for the prize.

Congratulations Sheila !

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 10th, 2009 at 7:29 am and is filed under Wow!. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.


http://blog.singersroom.c...recording/

I hope all the performers at the VH1 Divas were not also being honored as Divas come some of them chicks got a long long ways to go. You don't just hand out the Diva title like a slushy at 7 Eleven.

OldFriends4Sale said:

U just took me on a trip back to the 80's!!!!

DesireeNevermind said:

lol I agree, and no they all weren't most were their to 'assist' the real Diva's

Didn't realize she is a co-owner of the Conga Room



The Grand Opening of the Conga Room at L.A. Live had celebs in a Conga line getting all the way live. The Night Club co-owners Will.i.am, Jimmy Smits, Trevor Ariza, Sheila E, Baron Davis, Amaury Nolasco, and Paul Rodriguez are excited to bring back the latin Night Club with an all new vibrancy to spice up downtown Los Angeles. Celebs who came out to join in on the celebration included Eva Longoria Parker, Alfre Woodard, Dylan McDermott, Elise Neal and more..







Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, center, plays bongos with Sheila E at the grand opening of the Conga Room in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday Dec. 10, 2008.
[Edited 4/2/09 11:49am]