Sheila E.

Songwriter: Prince

Producer: Prince

I was all alone
When the doorbell rang
Going 4 my own
A narcissistic thang
He was dressed in red
A mask covered his eyes
Something 4 my head
He said he had a big surprise

Romance
Romance 1600
Let's dance
Let's dance until we see the sun

Romance
Romance 1600
All 4 one
One 4 all
Fun 4 everyone, everyone

Pretty summer night
He had a place 2 go
Everything was right
(So right)
People I wanted 2 know

It was so bizarre
Everyone wore a mask
Hiding who they are
Don't bother 2 ask

Romance
Romance 1600

We were not ashamed
(No shame, no shame)
We took off all our clothes
Fun is all 2 blame
Only Heaven knows

My lover dressed in red
He never used his hands
He loved me in his head
(Love in his head)
He knew I'd understand

1600
Romance
Romance 1600
Romance

Romance
Romance 1600

Thank U
(Thank U)
(Thank U)
(Danke schön)

Sheila E., born Sheila Escovedo on December 12, 1957, is a singer, songwriter, and percussionist from Oakland, California. Her honorific title is “The Queen of Percussion”.

The daughter of a Mexican jazz percussionist and Creole/African-American factory worker, Sheila comes from a family of musical royalty – father Pete Escovedo and uncle Coke were members of the Santana band for a time. Her other uncles are Alejandro, who has had a sustained alt-punk career; Javier, who led the early punk pioneer band The Zeros; and Mario, who fronted the 90s group The Dragons and MEX, aka Mario Escovedo Xperience. Sheila’s brothers Juan and Peter Michael are also percussionists, with Peter working on The Wayne Brady Show. Sheila is the goddaughter of Tito Puente, a Latin Jazz pioneer and Spanish Harlem legend.

“Before I had language, I had rhythm,” she wrote in The Beat Of My Own Drum, a 2014 memoir. “I learned it before I learned my mother tongue.” At the age of 20, Sheila became a member of George Duke’s R&B jazz band, and worked with him from 1976 to 1980, during Duke’s early Epic/CBS years. By the age of 26, she had already worked or toured with Marvin Gaye, Herbie Hancock, Diana Ross, and family friend Lionel Richie.

more tracks from the album

Romance 1600

From the album

Romance 1600 (1985)

Sheila E. popular songs

Romance 1600Sheila E.

Sheila E.

Romance 1600