The Prince's favorite...
Sheila E, whose real name is Sheila Escovedo, is an American singer-songwriter from a long line of musicians, the best known of which are singer Alejandro Escovedo, Javier Escovedo founder of the group The Zeros, Mario Escovedo of the group The Dragons, but also Coke Escovedo which was part of the Santana group and founder of the Azteca group. Among others ...
It was in 1976 that things really took off for her when she participated in the recording of Alphonso Johnson's track "Yesterday's Dream". A first step that allowed her to join The George Duke Band the following year. Group with which she will make no less than 4 albums between 1978 and 1980.
But it was 1978 that was to prove decisive for her destiny when she crossed, for the first time, the path of a certain… Prince. Which promises her that one day they will play together in the same group ...
A prophecy that came true in 1984 when she participated alongside him in the recording sessions for what would become one of the greatest albums of all time, namely "Purple Rain". By playing backing vocals on songs like "Let’s go crazy" and "Erotic city".
An ideal launching pad that will allow her to launch solo the same year thanks to the album "The glamorous life". And for a first album, it's a real masterstroke. The album was a hit with the single which bears the name of the album. A success due in part to a particularly neat music video which allows the singer to achieve international star status. Album from which will also be extracted a second top hit with the single "The Belle of St. Mark", thus confirming the vertiginous rise of the artist. Also the same year, she will have a brief affair with Prince.
A year later in 1985 the album "Romance 1600" was released, an album of lesser success and which saw a slight public disaffection dawning, slowly but surely, on the horizon. An album which produced a first single "Sister fate". Single with medium success. On the other hand, the second single extracted him, will be a real hit. The title "A love bizarre" becomes a global top hit and for good reason : she sings it with Prince!
Small air hole in 1986 and back in force in 1987 with a new album named after the artist. Album which will mainly produce the hit "Hold me". Title which will unfortunately already be his last notorious hit.
Between 1986 and 1988, she will mainly serve as a drummer for Prince in his new group The New Power Generation.
She returned in 1991 with a new album "Sex cymbal" but this time, the return will go almost unnoticed. The album, like the 2 single extracts "Sex cymbal" and "Droppin' like files", will have only limited success.
Success in free fall, serious health problems, a decade 90 which will prove to be particularly trying for the singer. And which will precipitate its inevitable decline.
Which will not prevent her from coming back later and continuing the adventure in a slightly more discreet way...
To discover or rediscover.
Discography (among others ...) :
The glamorous life 1984
The Belle of St. Mark 1984
Sister fate 1985
A love bizarre 1985
Holly rock 1986
Hold me 1987
Sex cymbal 1991
Droppin’ like flies 1991
Cry baby 1992
N perfect time 2000
Waiting for you 2001
Bahia 2001
Who' taking care of you 2001
Mona Lisa 2013
I'll give you that 2013
Fiesta 2014
Lovely day 2014
Who I am now 2014
Girl meets boy 2016
Everyday people 2017
America 2017
No line 2019
Bailar 2020
Clips :
1984 ... a smashing start for the Prince's favorite. The pretty Sheila signs here simply one of the biggest dance hits of the decade. We couldn't ask for a better start ! MAS-TER-FUL !
1984 ... a decidedly exceptional year 1984 with a 2nd global mega hit in the wake, an extremely rare thing for a beginner. The 'Prince's Touch' works and produces wonders ...
1985 ... a dynamic that does not weaken in this new year. Everything unrolls like in a fairy tale for the singer who connects top hits to top hits and becomes one of the phenomena of the moment
1985 ... the favorite and her Prince in a virtual duo, it was to be expected. A magical duo that will have propelled the singer into spheres that she could never have imagined. HU-GE !
1986 ... after two literally euphoric years, the surprise effect begins to wear off and the bellows drop somewhat. Especially since inspiration is starting to be lacking ...
1987 ... no more frenzied rhythms, here she arrived in the Intimist area. Who could have imagined her all smoothly and with finesse. And yet, not only can she do it and in a very nice way too !
1991 ... then a big 4 years air hole. Four years to recharge your batteries and come back to a slightly different register. A little but not different enough to allow her to catch up with the leading pack ...
1991 ... where the art of trying to stick to the new standards of the moment. Despite the good will, the sound is really too typical of the 80s and the result will be final : last notorious hit for the singer ...
1992 ... we find her once again in the Intimist field for her last title of the decade. And my faith, it makes you wonder if she should not have devoted herself exclusively to this area during the 90s because she ensures, that's clear !
2000...she left behind a decade of the 90s which was not the most prosperous period in all areas. Now it's time for this new decade and above all for new hopes...
2001...she will release two albums in quick succession at the beginning of the decade, which shows her desire to bounce back and above all to show that she is still there...
2001...her desire to return to the race is obvious, but his prolonged absence during the 1990s penalized her to the highest point. And above all has somewhat relegated her to the background...
2001... it is the grassroots fans who rejoice at the highest point of her return, but at first sight it is only them. Hard law of the trade...
2013...new 12 year air hole. Her repeated prolonged absences don't really help and even if she comes back each time, she never manages to come to the surface in a notorious way...
2013...yet she does everything she can to adapt to the latest musical trends. Unfortunately, that won't be enough to make a difference...
2014... what is certain is that she decided not to let go during this decade of 2010. A desire to believe in it until the end which undoubtedly commands respect...
2014...the main thing is that she takes pleasure in what she does and no matter the rest. It's her new motto and who would blame her...
2014 ... she still has things to offer and especially to sing, it is clear. A revival of vitality that is surprising to say the least but which can only delight all those who have followed her since the first hour...
2016...and the adventure continues even more. This decade 2010 will have seen her reborn in a way that is spectacular to say the least...
2017 ... it must be said that this decade 2010 will have seen a return of a package of old glories of the 80s in a way that is surprising to say the least. The decade of resurrection for many of them...
2017...certainly she will never have regained the level of success she enjoyed during the 80s but no matter, the fact is that she is still there !
2019...a great decade for her which ends with this title. Whether she sang alone or with others, she will have multiplied projects and collaborations in an impressive way to say the least...
2020... so we imagine that this title will surely not be the last. Because we now know with her, everything is always possible...
Wiki :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheila_E.
Official Website :
Greatest Hits :
https://www.deezer.com/us/artist/11613
Discography :
https://www.youtube.com/c/SheilaE/featured