Sheila E. Biography

Fast Facts

• Recognition and acclaim recieved includes the Imagen Foundation's Humanitarian Award, the Angels Across America Award, the Prism Lifetime Achivement Award and the Women of Soul Award
• Co-founded and is co-chair for the Elevate Hope Foundation, which helps abused and abandoned children through music therapy
• Recorded a version of "Mary Had a Little Lamb" that sold more than 6 million copies worldwide to raise funds for the Pediatric Aids Foundation
• Was hired to direct and arrange music for the 1998 and 1999 ALMA Awards, as well as the 2005 MTV VMAs
• Was one of the performers for USA for Africa's "We are the World․"
• Father, Pete, is a percussionist with whom she has often performed, and is the leader of the fusion jazz ensemble Azteca
• First began playing musical instruments at 3 years old
• Her first live performance came at age 5 when she was invited to perform on stage by her father in front of a sold-out crowd of 3,000, and it is an experience she attributes for inspiring her music career
• Her first solo album was produced with the help of Prince, and the lead single "The Glamorous Life" went on to win numerous awards
• Her album "Sex Cymbal" was produced by her younger brother, Peter Michael
• Her first credited film role came in 1986's "Kush Groove․"
• Is the founder and president of the production company Heaven Productions Music
• Toured with Prince during the 1984 - 1985 Purple Rain Tour
• Is a drummer/singer best known for high-profile collaborations with such artists as Prince, Beyonce, Hans Zimmer and Jennifer Lopez
• Shared soundtrack credits with the likes of Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston for 1998's "The Prince of Egypt․"
• Was a part of the Sign o' the Times Tour with Prince that was once rated as the 15th best tour in music history by Rolling Stone magazine
• Made history as the first female bandleader to appear on late night TV when she was hired for ex-NBA star Magic Johnson's "The Magic Hour," for which she also co-wrote the theme song
• Won the Grand Prize in Season Three of CMT's "Gone Country," leading to a career resurgence with her first country single and music video
• In cooperation with TOCA Kaman Music, she has developed her own lines of percussion instruments for both kids and adults