Sheila E., the undisputed queen of percussion, continues to make history with her acclaimed album Bailar, a project that takes salsa to new heights. Raised in a musical family in California’s Bay Area, her artistry was shaped by her father, the legendary Pete Escovedo, and her godfather, the iconic Tito Puente. They infused her with a unique blend of Latin jazz and Motown soul.
The legendary artist has built an impressive career spanning decades and became the first female percussionist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Now, her legacy grows with the release of Bailar Deluxe, featuring three unreleased tracks and an explosive collaboration with the princess of salsa, La India—a union set to make history in the genre.
Sheila E. talks to us about her latest musical project, Bailar Deluxe
Her early musical experience allowed her to become one of the most active forces in the industry, leading to a remarkable career reflected in collaborations with global icons like Prince, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie,Ringo Starr, and Beyoncé. Hits like “The Glamorous Life” and “A Love Bizarre” are clear examples of her artistic reach.
Sheila E. and Prince during The 36th Annual NAACP Image Awards
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Beyond her incredible live performances and Grammy-nominated tracks, Sheila E.’s influence also reaches into acting, philanthropy, and mentorship. Her commitment to using music as a tool for healing and social change is clear through her work with the Elevate Oakland Foundation and her autobiography, The Beat of My Own Drum.
Sheila recently hit a new creative high with the release of her first salsa album, Bailar Deluxe, co-produced with Tony Succar. The album features standout collaborations with stars like Gloria Estefan, Rubén Blades, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Víctor Manuelle, Luis Enrique, José “El Canario,” Mimy Succar, Debi Nova, and more.
Earlier this year, she took home the Grammy for Best Global Music Performance for 'Bemba Colorá' with Gloria Estefan and Mimy Succar at the 2025 awards.
With over 30 years of career behind her, Sheila E. continues to inspire new generations of musicians.
As part of the album’s promotion, ¡HOLA! AMÉRICAS sat down with this musical powerhouse for an exclusive chat, where she looked back on the personal and professional tools that helped shape her into one of the most respected women in the industry.
"To be around live music at an early age, it was just like, 'This is what I'm supposed to hear every day. This is amazing.'
"I sang a song in Spanish called Vuelvo, the first time ever singing in Spanish... I added a 60-piece orchestra and drums, like 12 drummers, and we just kept piling on drums and massive cinematic with a choir. So it was a lot of fun to add those elements to a salsa song.
Sheila E.
Sheila, tell us about this special edition of your album, Bailar Deluxe...
It was an extension of Bailar, and I wanted to add some more songs and more music, and I felt like Bailar hadn't been out enough. More people need to hear it because it's such an incredible album, and there are so many amazing people on this record, and it's like more people need to hear this. So I added three songs. I did a Latin version of 'Glamorous Life,' and then a new song was written featuring La India, whom I've known forever, and it's the first time we've worked together. That was exciting. And then I sang a song in Spanish called 'Vuelvo,' the first time ever singing in Spanish, because I don't speak Spanish, so it was amazing. And I added a 60-piece orchestra and drums, like 12 drummers, and we just kept piling on drums and massive cinematic with a choir. So it was a lot of fun to add those elements to a salsa song.
You’re an artist who has influenced so many musicians—but who were your own early musical influences?
My daddy. My daddy. I mean, watching him play and practice every day with vinyl and really committed to playing and practicing every day. And then he would have jam sessions, and then sometimes one of the bands or whatever would come over, and we'd have a full-on band in the living room. So to be around live music at an early age, it was just like, "This is what I'm supposed to hear every day. This is amazing." When I don't hear live music, I'm going, "God, it's so different." I love that I get to play live. It's such a big deal to play live. It really is. And it's so exciting. So my inspiration was both of my parents actually, the drive from my mom to be able to just go for it. And she's like, "You can do whatever you want to do. It doesn't matter." She was an athlete, and she just wanted to be the best. So I always wanted to follow their footsteps.
Music is synonymous with freedom. You’re an artist who has always followed your creative instinct, not the industry’s expectations… how hard has it been to protect that freedom in a business that often demands compromise?
Yeah. Great point. And it's true. So that was the problem I had when I was with Warner Bros., because I wanted to add different music within my already funk music. And they said to me, "Well, we can't do that, then we can't categorize you." And I'm like, "But you can't categorize me because I'm all music. I like playing Latin music. I love gospel music. My dad is a Latin jazz artist. I love funk. I love Brazilian music. "Why can't I just play everything that I love?" "Well, it's complicated because no one's going to like you." And I'm like, "What?"
So I stuck to the first three or four albums playing in that direction, but then how I compensated... Not compensated. How I made up for them not allowing me to put it on the record was that I would play it live and add these other elements in the live show so that people could see, "I'm not just this. I can also do this. And who says that they can... You're telling me that you're making me dummy down. You're not respecting the people; they're not capable of understanding that someone plays all different instruments or different genres of music." And so since 1990, I haven't signed to a label, and I have my own label and do music how I want to do it. And—so that's the only way to do it.
[BTS] Sheila E., brings raw power and elegance to the studio while recording ‘Vuelvo,’
Sheila E. takes the stage at the Ritz in New York on September 13, 1984.
Which artist today do you think brings the same energy and creative force to the stage that you do?
I have no idea because there's only one of me. So I don't know. If I inspired someone to do what I'm doing, I don't know, but I hope it's beneficial to continue to mentor young people and keep them interested. And the biggest thing really is to learn about the business. And that's what needs to change in the music business right now: how we need to survive as artists. The streaming thing is killing us. I don't know who's doing what I'm doing. I have no idea. I can only speak for myself.
What advice would you give to young people who want to become artists or musicians like you?
The same thing my dad told me when I was 15 and said I wanted to be a musician. I told him, “Dad, this is what I want to do. This is what I’m meant to do.” This is what I was supposed to do. I got to go out on tour with you." Two weeks later, I went out on tour with him and never looked back. I knew that this is what I was supposed to do. There are going to be a lot of nos. No doesn't mean that you're not capable. No means opportunity. You're going to figure out a way to get what you need to get to be that artist.
These times are way different than what I used to do and what we had to do and what was available for us. And nowadays, I don't want him to sit on the phone and go, "How many likes do I have?" That's not important. Really, you have to continue to just create. Whether it's good or bad, just continue to move and be in the moment and enjoy that and collaborate with different people and play with different people and learn and be open to things because if I just did one type of music, I probably wouldn't still be here playing because I was available to all genres of music. And I mean, I was telling someone today that I was asked to play with Brooks & Dunn at the Country Music Awards, playing timbales on country music. Who gets asked to play timbales on country music? You just don't. These opportunities are open. You just have to adjust to the situation, do your best, and be kind to others.
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