One of life’s constants for Sheila E. comes down to a simple phrase: follow the beat. And her impeccable inner rhythm is the pulse behind a trailblazing career that still knows no bounds. Family, faith and music were guiding forces for Sheila E. growing up in the Bay Area. In addition to percussionist dad Pete, the Oakland, CA native counts former Santana member/Azteca founder Coke Escovedo and The Dragons front man Mario Escovedoas uncles. Fellow Latin star Tito Puente was her godfather. In addition to being weaned on Latin jazz and Motown, Sheila E. was exposed to a diverse array of Bay Area acts. Those influences ranged from the rock of Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead to the R&B/pop of the Pointer Sisters and the funk of Sly & the Family Stone. “I used to sit on the corner outside of the local community center with Twinkies and 7-Up listening to Sly and Larry Graham rehearse,” remembers Sheila E. “The sounds of the Bay Area molded me.”

Sheila E. continues to produce and perform music throughout the world. As music fans across the globe recommit to live music again, the timing could not have been better for Sheila E. and the E-Train to drop the new album “Hella FonkE” and reignite stages everywhere. Sheila E., the “Queen of Percussion” adds another exciting notch to her prolific career as a recording artist, producer and musician extraordinaire. E-Train was founded in the early 90s and reflected the more jazz nuanced side of Sheila’s compositions and artistry. Though renowned for her amazing R&B and pop career, before she was Sheila E., she was Sheila Escovedo, cutting her teeth as a child with her father, the latin jazz legend Pete Escovedo. This eventually led to gigs with George Duke and Herbie Hancock, among many other musical giants