Performance by: Sheila E.


Special Guest Appearance: Oakland Rising


Event Host: NFL Hall of Famer & 49ers Legend Ronnie Lott 

Elevate Oakland, the non-profit co-founded by Bay Area legend Sheila E., has joined the Super Bowl party hosted by 49er legend and NFL Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott on February 6th at The Guild Theatre in Menlo Park. Oakland music legend Sheila E is headlining the show, supported by the emerging artist collective Oakland Rising.  A portion of the proceeds will benefit Follow the Music and Elevate Oakland

More about Follow The Music.

CLICK HERE to see Follow The Music's Kickoff Event From The Guild 2023 

CLICK HERE for Follow The Music's Donation Page 

More about Elevate Oakland

CLICK HERE for Elevate Oakland's Donation Page 

GENRE: R&B, Funk, Pop

Headliner: Sheila E.

CLICK HERE for Sheila E.'s Spotify. 

CLICK HERE for Sheila E.'s Apple Music. 

CLICK HERE for Sheila E.'s Youtube. 

CLICK HERE for Sheila E.'s Website.

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, “The Legendary Pete Escovedo”, the Oakland, CA native counts former Santana member/Azteca founder Coke Escovedo and The Dragons front man Mario Escovedo as 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.”

So, it’s no surprise that after such a music-immersive childhood, the gifted, world-class drummer and percussionist began amassing an impressive string of credits playing not only with her dad but also with pioneering talents like George Duke, Herbie Hancock, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, Prince, Ringo Starr, Gloria Estefan, Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez. Grammy Award-nominated singer/songwriter behind the seminal hits “The Glamorous Life” and “A Love Bizarre.” A fearless multi-instrumentalist, equally proficient on guitar and bass, actress, mentor and philanthropist.

Following a Bay Area gig in the late ‘70s, Sheila E. met Prince backstage. Their Purple Rain recording sessions—including her vocals on the 1984 classic “Erotic City”— morphed into launching her solo career that same year. Debut album The Glamorous Life spun off the Grammy Award-nominated top 10 hit of the same name plus a second top 40 single “The Belle of St. Mark.” Between her ‘80s tenure as drummer, songwriter and musical director for Prince’s backup band, Sheila E. released two more solo albums (Romance 1600 and Shelia E.) and scored another classic hit with “A Love Bizarre.”

Sheila E.’s fierce, dynamic verve onstage has made her a major concert draw since the ‘90s. Along the way, she has acted in the films “Krush Groove”, “The Adventures of Ford Fairlane”, “Chasing Papi” and launched various music projects (E-Train, C.O.E.D., E Family Band). She added to her arsenal of credits performing on the 2012 Academy Awards with pop hitmaker Pharrell Williams and composer Hans Zimmer. Sheila E. was also among the roster of stars chosen to perform at the 2013 Kennedy Center Honors whose honorees included artists Herbie Hancock, Billy Joel and Carlos Santana.

Sheila E.'s producing, arranging, and performance talents have been showcased throughout the music and film industry with appearances on, The Academy Awards, The Latin Grammy Awards, BET Awards, The American Music Awards, The Kennedy Center Honors, The Summer Olympics, WOW Awards, ALMA's, and The Image Awards just to name a few.

In 2010 Sheila E. was nominated for an Emmy Award for “Outstanding Music Direction” in recognition for her leadership as musical director for President Obama’s Performance at The White House: Fiesta Latina and again more recently in 2020 for “Let’s Go Crazy” Grammy Salute to Prince. Other projects, include The E Family Now and Forever, Pete Escovedo Live at Stern Grove Festival with her father, “The Legendary Pete Escovedo”, and brothers Juan and Peter Michael Escovedo, Sheila E. Live from Lugano Switzerland DVD, Silk Road from the group Heavenese hailing from Japan, a literary biography released by Simon & Schuster Publishing Titled The Beat of My Own Drum, ICON Sheila E.'s 2014 solo album and the single release Girl Meets Boy in memory of the late, great, Prince. Her 2017 studio project and tour, ICONIC, was Sheila E.'s effort to bring awareness to social issues and humanitarianism. Her 2020 single releases, “No Line” with the legendary Snoop Dogg, “Lemon Cake” & “Bailar” are Sheila E.'s continued contribution to the music industry.

Away from the spotlight, music doubles as a source of healing and giving back for Sheila E. In tandem with the city of Oakland, she and her Elevate Hope organization staged the first annual “Elevate Oakland” benefit concert on Feb. 1, 2014. A host of Bay Area artists and other acclaimed musicians performed at the city-donated Fox Theatre. The goal: to raise funds to improve student academic achievement and attendance through music and arts programming. But this wasn’t Sheila E.’s first time giving back. Between gigs, she has also criss-crossed the country, speaking at schools and colleges, shelters, church organizations, music classes and clinics about music’s effect on her life and career. “Sharing music in any way I can is my ministry,” she says.

And that was part of the inspiration for penning the autobiography “The Beat of My Own Drum”. Playing a perceived male instrument and working in a male dominated industry exacted a personal price—several years ago Sheila E. publicly acknowledged she was an abuse survivor. “The book was the beginning of the healing”, says Sheila E. “I’d talked about working in a male-dominated industry in my ministry and addressed it in some of the song lyrics I’d written. But it was challenging to sit down and write about it in detail for the book. No one in my household told me I couldn’t play drums because I was a girl. It wasn’t until I was outside of the house and playing sessions. But through pain comes realization, understanding and the opportunity to help others overcome those challenges”.

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 E.’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 Legendary Pete Escovedo”. This eventually led to gigs with George Duke and Herbie Hancock, among many other musical giants.

Sheila E. has been a monumental figure in the music industry for decades. In July 2023, she was honored with her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, making history as the first female percussionist to receive this accolade. That same month, she was also inducted into the Zildjian Hall of Fame during the 400th anniversary of the cymbal company, further solidifying her status as a legendary percussionist.

Following significant acknowledgments, Sheila E. released her first-ever salsa album, Bailar, co-produced with Tony Succar, on April 5, 2024. This album showcases an impressive lineup of collaborations with top-tier artists such as Gloria Estefan, Ruben Blades, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Luis Enrique, Jose Alberto “El Canario”, Victor Manuelle, and Debi Nova among others. These collaborations underscore Sheila E.'s exceptional ability to meld diverse musical talents, producing vibrant and influential music.

To mark the release of Bailar, Sheila E. hosted a vibrant live performance of the album on April 3, 2024, at the historic Fillmore Miami Beach, just days before its official release. This milestone concert brought together many of the album's collaborators, featuring standout performances from Gloria Estefan, Mimy Succar, Jean Rodriguez, Tony Succar and Debi Nova. The event set a celebratory tone for the album launch and showcased the rich musical collaborations that define Sheila E.'s work.

Among the standout singles from Bailar is "Bemba Colorá," a vibrant reimagining of the song originally performed by Celia Cruz, featuring Gloria Estefan and Mimy Succar. A striking music video showcasing Sheila E.'s unique style and musicality was shot in Miami, becoming a central piece of the album's promotion. Other significant tracks include "El Rey Del Timbal," a tribute to Tito Puente featuring Gilberto Santa Rosa, "BAILAR" with Luis Enrique and “Anacaona” with icon Ruben Blades. Further spotlighting the album, a music video for "Playa Tequila" was released on September 12, 2024, enhancing the album’s rich musical tapestry and showcasing innovative artistic elements linked to Sheila E.’s vibrant percussion skills.

This vibrant collection of performances and collaborations, highlighted by the successful launch and reception of the song "Bemba Colorá", culminated in a historic achievement when Sheila E. secured her first-ever Grammy Award for Best Global Music Performance for the track. This accolade celebrated not just the song but also the innovative spirit of the entire album, marking a pinnacle in Sheila E.'s illustrious career.

Right before her Grammy win, Sheila E.'s dynamic presence was felt across significant platforms—she performed "Bemba Colorá" featuring Gloria Estefan on the Jimmy Kimmel late-night show and also took part in the historic FireAid concert performing alongside Dr. Dre and Anderson .Paak. This concert, aimed at supporting the wildfire recovery efforts in Los Angeles, was a resounding success, raising over $100 million. These performances not only highlighted her musical versatility but also her dedication to humanitarian causes.

Sheila E. remains a vigorous force on stage, continuously producing and performing globally. Her remarkable career not only continues to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide but also leaves an indelible mark on the music industry and beyond. Today, she tours the world, sharing music that resonates deeply and speaks from the heart, cementing her status as a profoundly influential figure in music and her community. As CEO of the entertainment company StilettoFlats Inc., Sheila E. thrives not only as an artist but also stands as a powerful example of resilience and passion within the music industry.

Support: Oakland Rising

CLICK HERE for Okaland Rising's Website. 

Oakland Rising is a collective of top emerging artists from Oakland dedicated to sharing the stage, honoring the city's legendary cultural legacy and bringing light to this world through their undeniable talent and uplifting spirit.

Launched in October 2024 at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, the group currently features seven musicians ages 15-25, including the three-person sibling band MeloDious, along with four solo artists -- 17 year old sax prodigy Ayo Brame, and vocalists August Lee Stevens, B. Deveaux, and 15 year old NAIMA. New members will be added as current members go on to pursue their solo careers.

The group was developed in partnership with music education program Follow the Music, started by a group of Bay Area music and cultural leaders who believe in the transformational power of music. 

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Doors 7PM // Show 8PM

Gold Circle is standing room closest to the stage. General Admission is standing room only.  Mezzanine is on the second floor, reserved and fully seated. For more information please contact ticketing@guildtheatre.com