Sheila E.

I purchased this book over a year ago. After the death of Prince, I wanted to know more about the artist. I remembered Sheila E. being a factor in Prince's life and decided to pick up her book from my personal library and read it.

I was a casual listener to her music and not so much a fan (however, I am a fan of Santana and Latin jazz), but the memoir opened my eyes to a lot I didn't know about her career from beginning to present. I delved into reading more about her and other people in her life by watching videos, movies and personal interviews, with a new viewpoint.

The memoir into the life of Sheila Escovedo was an interesting read from her grueling tour schedules to her interactions with other famous icons. Her rape and molestation at a young age was sad and very uncomfortable to read, but her ability to push forward and ultimately reveal her devastating secret.

I felt that Sheila E. spoke from her heart on her relationships with Carlos Santana and Prince. I would have liked to have had her reveal more on the relations between Lionel and Brenda Richie and it's impact on the adoption of her niece Nicole Escovedo to the Richie's, but I can respect her demand for privacy in that regard.

Sheila Escovedo wrote with honesty and compassion...Great Book!… (plus d'informations)

The little I knew of Sheila E was her incredible "Glamorous Life" video, and I knew she was a mad percussion player. Now I know a lot more, and I was touched by Sheila's amazing parents and her strong family life despite an early devastating rape. Her natural talent and ability to absorb all the sounds around her, her mimicry of her father Pete's technique, all with her left hand as she watched and did what he did - this is the stuff of dreams, to be so talented. As if the music wasn't enough, she becomes romantically involved with Carlos Santana and with Prince, and doesn't have an unkind word to say about either man. It's refreshing to hear the perspective of a woman who is an outstanding musician in her own right (unlike, say, Patti Boyd) involved with such creative men. Sheila also played with Marvin Gaye, Lionel Richie, Herbie Hancock,and many jazz greats.

One of the best passages in the book deals with her racial identity. Sheila's mother's family are Creoles from New Orleans and her father's family is from Mexico. She has identified as African American and Latino, but felt in school that she needed to come down on one side or the other. Hopefully that type of pressure is now much reduced as people of multiple races find joy in their beautiful blends.

Sheila goes through her nasty diva phase but comes out on the other side with religion and with a purpose: to encourage children from limited backgrounds to find their musical spirit. She's a woman to be greatly admired.… (plus d'informations)