Anthology

SHEILA E, born into a family of musicians, found her love of percussion when she first was invited onto the stage by her father for a solo a the age of five. She hasn’t looked back since. Playing with such luminaries as Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle, Marvin Gaye, Ringo Starr, Lionel Richie, Natalie Cole, Diana Ross and Prince and on everything from the Prince of Egypt soundtrack to Prince Albums in addition to her solo projects, Sheila E has made herself known. Her career really took off when she was discovered by Prince in 1978. Although she had been touring successfully with many artists before then, her steady work with Prince over several decades allowed her to start her solo career. He helped her make her first solo album, A Glorious Life, which sold very successfully and garnered a Grammy nomination for its eponymous single. Sheila E became the first female bandleader on late night TV in 1988 on Magic Johnson’s “Magic Hour,” for which she wrote the theme song. More recently, Sheila E appeared on CMT’s “Gone Country,” which she left as the winner for her hit single “Glorious Train.”