Renowned percussionist encourages voting

Charles Edgerton/Carolina Peacemaker
Famous percussionist Sheila E visited N.C. A&T last week to talk about the importance of voting. The E. Family Band consists of Shelia E., her father, Pete Escovedo and her brothers Juan and Peter Michael Escovedo (not pictured).

North Carolina A&T State University welcomed legendary musician, Shelia E and her talented family last week as she came to encourage the importance of voting.

Oct. 17 was declared “Sheila E. & The E. Family at A&T Day” by WNAA, 90.1 FM, the broadcast voice of North Carolina A&T State University. The celebration began at 1 p.m. and included a meet & greet, opportunities for interviews and a discussion about the importance of voting.

“We have the right to vote and sometimes we take it for granted. We forget it only takes one person to make a difference. It’s very important to me to support my president because I believe in what he’s doing,” said Sheila E. Sheila Escovedo, known by her stage name Sheila E., is an American drummer and percussionist, perhaps best known for her work with Prince, George Duke and Ringo Starr.

The musician has been traveling across country with volunteers for the Obama campaign and performed with her father and brothers, The E. Family, to kick off N.C. A&T’s Lyceum Series.

In 2011, The E. Family released a CD titled “The E. Family: Now & Forever,” which features Shelia E., her father, Pete Escovedo and her brothers Juan and Peter Michael Escovedo. The family is currently touring worldwide.

The Lyceum Series at A&T is dedicated to bringing the most provocative, culturally diverse programming to the university the surrounding community. The intent is to bring in world-class programming that extends beyond the normal array of educational programs offered at the university. Shelia E. became a top session and touring musician before the age of 20.

She revealed that before getting into music seriously, she was training for track and field in the Olympics, but music won in the end. “I thought to myself, this is what heaven is supposed to feel like. I want to do this everyday,” said Sheila E.

She has performed and recorded with George Duke, Herbie Hancock, Marvin Gaye, Gloria Estefan, Stevie Nicks and others. In the 1980’s, Prince helped catapult her to her own pop superstardom. Her hits like “The Glamorous Life” and “A Love Bizarre,” plus her pivotal work on other Prince-related projects contributed to her international stardom.