I attended the drum clinic Sheila E. did on Monday, the night before the Ringo concert. It was held in Schaumburg, IL, a small suburb just outside of Chicago. The clinic was Awesome! Sheila E. is the warmest, kindest, most talented and down to earth woman I have ever had the pleasure of meeting! Her clinic reminded me a little bit of the workshop she did at last year's Celebration, except this time we were able to take tons of pictures of Sheila doing her thing! The audience members got to ask lots of questions and she even invited some audience members to come on stage and showcase their talents as percussionists. She was really impressed with some of the younger aspiring drummers and percussionists. Sheila has a real love for children and at the end of the clinic, she invited all the little ones in the audience come on stage, gave them all percussion instruments, introduced them as "The E. Kids" and had them all play! It sounded really good!! Sheila also surprised us by performing "The Glamorous Life"! One of my friends was so excited that she jumped out of her seat! That made Sheila smile!

Afterwards, she sat out in the foyer and talked to every person who waited in line to speak to her. Me and my friends were near the end of the line, so by the time we reached Sheila, you could tell that she was ready to wrap it up and go to dinner. Nevertheless, she was so gracious and kind. She signed everything we placed in front of her and posed for a group picture with me and my friends! She signed my copy of the Romance 1600 video and a little hand drum I purchased from her line. She signs everything BACKWARDS, like this: "E. aliehS ,evoL"

I also had a huge poster of the Sheila E album cover that I really wanted her to sign but I was reluctant to ask her because, well, she's dressed a little provocative on that cover and I remember how at last year's Celebration workshop, she talked about having moved on to a different place in her life and that certain things she did in the past, or ways of dressing, she does not do anymore. I told her that I remembered her saying that last year and didn't know if she would sign the poster. Sheila told me that it was because of those days that got her to where she is now... she had no problem signing the poster! I thought that was so nice of her.

I'll be a fan of Sheila E's. forever! She is truly a wonderful person!

...i'm tellin' ya musicians are the best people in the world. ringo didn't have to put sheila in his revue...her chops and flash (and sex appeal) would shame most guys but his rep as a guy who defers to other musicians with stronger abilities than him remains true to form."

prince could learn a lot about respect and humility from his girl sheila! she's the best!!!

...prince could learn a lot about respect and humility from his girl sheila! she's the best!!!

youngca said:

Ironically, during the clinic, someone asked Sheila if her friends gave her a hard time for being a girl drummer. She said No and that her friends always supported her. She said it was OTHER MUSICIANS who treated her like crap during her climb up the ladder. She said fellow musicians totally dissed her... and only because she was a woman! This made her feel terrible. She probably could play them under the table and the only way they could handle it was to berate her! Sheila said that it still happens... even today. So younca, not all musicians are cool, especially if they are sexist and can't handle a woman like Sheila E. being the total package in terms of talent!

i hear ya...to be truthful i know a few lady musicians and
they still get shit from a sizable number of male musicians.
of course not everybody will respect a person for their talent.
race and gender issues will always be a problem with some
folk. you can't change everybody's opinion.

from where i sat...the guys in ringo's band gave sheila
her props and respect!
which she deserves!


youngca

also said:

I don't want to come off as sounding like I'm trying to defend Prince or anything like that... well maybe I am just a little bit because I have to admit that I dig the guy and am slightly biased but... I don't think you can compare Prince's humility and the amount of respect he may have towards others to Sheila E. They are 2 different people. I know that P shows respect for other musicians who have inspired him along his journey, as well as present day musicians that he's feelin'. And I can sense that he's has nothing but love, admiration and respect for Sheila E, just like she does for him. We all know that Prince had that "dark, moody side" at one point in his life. But I kinda think that finding his religion and his God may have changed that side of him but I can't say definitively because I don't know him personally! I can say that I have met Prince and each time, he has always been just that... A PRINCE... to me! The way he acknowledges me with a smile and an upwards head nod is just the coolest in my book!! I think it's a little harsh to say that someone has a lot to learn about humility and respect unless you know them personally.

i love prince too. but i'm realistic about the negative things he has done. i met a few folk who would tell you
the shit he done. again...the key word is "done"! prince's
spiritual re-birth and maturity seems to have made him
a better person...which is great.
i don't diss him for what he did before rzr...that was HIS
husiness (smile) not mine. i've been a fan of his from day one and always separated what he his personally and what he is artistically,
but you can't ignore his past either. a lot of his former
friends bandmates (andre..for example) wouldn't be like you
or i and would still look at him in a negative light.

they were the ones hurt. we weren't.
my point is sheila has generally always been nice and cool
to people and that's what i meant. (and i wasn't saying it
in a mean way...just stating a fact about my fellow GEmini
(who's birthday is the day after mine!).

prince is prince and i respect that about the brotha.



Anyway, I'm glad your Ringo/Sheila E. experience was fun and ya know... I was thinking the same thing last year at the Celebration the night Sheila E. played! What if Prince came out onstage wearing that long beige coat and those dark glasses and he & Sheila did Love Bizarre? The Paisley roof would have come crashing down!!! I still can't watch that performance without screaming! "CHOP AGAIN"!!! "CHOP ONE MORE TIME"!!!

I hate U.

Sheila was here (on Long Island) doing one of those drum clinics - and I didn't even find out about until 2 days AFTER!!! Worse off I missed the 2 local performances of the Ringo Starr concert, so I didn't even see her in action!

So - I am jealous and upset and I hate U.

I hate U.

Sheila was here (on Long Island) doing one of those drum clinics - and I didn't even find out about until 2 days AFTER!!! Worse off I missed the 2 local performances of the Ringo Starr concert, so I didn't even see her in action!

So - I am jealous and upset and I hate U.