Sheila E: The Percussion Heart

The world-class percussionist, singer, and bandleader who became one of Prince’s closest musical partners and a key member of his inner circle during the height of his 1980s success. OVERVIEW Sheila Escovedo (born December 12, 1957), known professionally as Sheila E., is an American percussionist, singer, drummer, and actress. Coming from a legendary Latin jazz family, she brought explosive energy, Latin rhythms, and star power to Prince’s music and stage shows OVERVIEW Sheil

Sheila E. is a world‑class percussionist, vocalist, and bandleader whose decades‑long collaboration with Prince helped define the Minneapolis sound and some of the most iconic performances in his career.

Format: 7" Vinyl • 45 RPM Label: Paisley Park Country: Japan Catalogue: P‑2238 Release Date: 25 May 1987 Genre: Funk / Soul Style: Funk Manufactured & Distributed By: Warner‑Pioneer Corporation, Japan Overview This Japanese‑exclusive 7" edition of Koo Koo was released on 25 May 1987, predating the US single by four years and representing one of the earliest international configurations of the track. Issued by Warner‑Pioneer Corporation, the single features a unique Japane

Format: 7" Single • 12" Single • Promo Formats Label: Paisley Park / Warner Bros. Country: USA Release Date: 6 May 1991 Genre: Pop • R&B • Funk Style: Minneapolis‑influenced Dance‑Pop Overview Koo Koo was released on 6 May 1991 as the third and final single from Sheila E.’s self‑titled third album Sheila E. Arriving two months after the album, it served as the closing chapter of the project’s commercial cycle. The B‑side, “Paradise Gardens,” was a previously unreleased

Article Context & Main Highlights Key Content Release Date: July 4, 1986 (US) Label: Warner Bros. / Paisley Park “Holly Rock” b/w “Toy Box” Fifth single released from the Krush Groove movie soundtrack album, marking the first Sheila E. single not taken from one of her own studio albums. Written and largely performed by Prince (uncredited), “Holly Rock” is a high-energy funk track. The B-side “Toy Box” is taken from Sheila E.’s album Romance 1600. The single was also released

Article Context & Main Highlights Key Content Release Date: June 25, 1986 Label: Paisley Park Country: Japan Catalogue: P-2125 Format: 7" Single “Holly Rock” b/w “Touch Me” Japanese 7" single release from the Krush Groove movie soundtrack. A-side: Holly Rock (written, produced & arranged by Sheila E., with major uncredited contribution from Prince). B-side: Touch Me. Manufactured and distributed by Warner-Pioneer Corporation in Japan. Notable Details Dramatic cover features S

Article Context & Main Highlights Key Content Publication: The San Francisco Examiner Date: Thursday, May 22, 1986 Short-notice announcement that Prince would perform at the Warfield Theatre on Friday at 8 p.m. This was his third Bay Area performance in six months. Notable Details Prince had previously played with Sheila E. at the Warfield and joined The Bangles on stage there to perform “Manic Monday,” the song he wrote for them. He then delivered a full set of his own music

A major two-page feature in Blues & Soul spotlighting Sheila E. during the peak of her solo success with the album Romance 1600 and her association with Prince. SOURCE DETAILS Publication: Blues & Soul Date: October 15, 1985 (Issue 443) Country: United Kingdom Section / Pages: Cover Story + Two-page interior feature THE STORY This in-depth feature explores Sheila E.’s solo career breakthrough with Romance 1600, her transition from percussionist to frontwoman, and her strong c

Romance 1600 (full title Sheila E. In Romance 1600) is the second album by Sheila E., following her debut The Glamorous Life. Although the credits state that all tracks were produced, written, and arranged by Sheila E. (with A Love Bizarre giving Prince co‑credit), seven of the eight tracks were in fact produced, written, and arranged by Prince, with Sheila E. contributing additional input. Only Merci For The Speed Of A Mad Clown In Summer contained no writing input from Prin

Bedtime Story was issued in the USA on 12 August 1985 as the second single from Sheila E.’s album Romance 1600, arriving two weeks ahead of the album’s release. The B‑side, Dear Michaelangelo, also taken from the album, appears here in a slightly shortened fade‑out edit, although this is not identified on the label. Prince wrote, produced and performed the majority of both tracks, but his involvement was not credited. COUNTRY VARIANTS Artist: Sheila E. Title: Bedtime Story La

Sister Fate was the first single to be released from Sheila E.’s second album Romance 1600, released four weeks before the album. The single contained an edit (removing an instrumental coda), an extended version, and an instrumental version of the track. The 12" single included a previously-unreleased track, Save The People, which contained no input by Prince. The single was released in North America and Germany. The single did not enter the US Billboard Pop Chart, but reache

This Star-Phoenix review focuses on Sheila E. and her album The Glamorous Life, placing particular emphasis on the funky, upbeat character of the record and Prince’s involvement in its production. Reviewer Terry Craig also highlights Sheila E.’s musicianship, percussion and vocals, while recognising the title track as the recording that had brought her considerable attention. Publication: Star-Phoenix Date: October 25, 1984 Country: Canada Appearing in the newspaper’s Reviews

"The Glamorous Life" was released in the United Kingdom on October 15, 1984 as the first single from Sheila E.'s debut album of the same name. It was also the first release of any kind to carry Sheila E.'s name as the credited artist. The single had originally appeared four weeks before the release of the parent album. The standard 7-inch edition presented a 3:41 edit of "The Glamorous Life", backed with "The Glamorous Life Part II", a 3:12 continuation of the main recording.

"The Belle Of St. Mark" was released in the United States on October 12, 1984 as the second single from Sheila E.'s debut album, The Glamorous Life. Arriving approximately four months after the album's release, the single continued the promotional campaign surrounding the successful debut record.The release featured both an edited version of the title track and the previously unreleased song "Too Sexy" as its B-side. Unlike much of Sheila E.'s associated work from the period,

Sheila E.’s debut solo album The Glamorous Life, released on June 4, 1984, marked the explosive arrival of a major new star from the Minneapolis scene. Produced almost entirely by Prince, the album introduced Sheila E. as a vibrant, percussion-driven solo artist with confidence, style, and groove RELEASE DETAILS Artist: Sheila E. Label: Warner Bros. Records Date: June 4, 1984 Catalogue: 25110 (US LP) Format: LP / Cassette / CD Country: United States CHARTS USA Billboard 200:

Jon Bream announces Sheila E. as Prince’s latest protégé with her debut single “The Glamorous Life” now out on Warner Bros. Prince’s new album Purple Rain (the soundtrack to his upcoming movie) is set for release on June 18, with the film possibly arriving in theaters in July. Prince’s new single “When Doves Cry” drops this week, while The Time’s “Ice Cream Castle” single arrives May 30. Publication: Minneapolis Star and Tribune Date: Sunday, May 13, 1984 Country: United Stat

Sheila E. released “The Glamorous Life” as a single in the USA on May 2, 1984, backed with “The Glamorous Life Part II”. It was issued in multiple 7" and 12" variants, including commercial singles, extended club mixes, and various promotional copies. US commercial 7" single for The Glamorous Life, released 2 May 1984. RELEASE DETAILS Artist: Sheila E. Label: Warner Bros. Records Format: 7" / 12" Vinyl Single + Promo Singles Country: United States Released: May 2, 1984 Genre: