Sheila E. is now the first female solo percussionist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The Grammy-nominated musician was honored with the 2,759th star on the Los Angeles landmark Wednesday afternoon.
Joined by her friends Jimmy Jam, Ringo Starr and H.E.R., the Oakland native called the honor a key moment in her life.
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Grammy-winning producer and fellow Walk of Famer Jimmy Jam emceed the ceremony and welcomed Sheila E. to the stage.
“I used to sit on the corner outside of the local community center with Twinkies and 7-Up listening to Sly and Larry Graham rehearse,” she said. “The sounds of the Bay Area molded me.”
The percussionist, born Sheila Escovedo, told the audience she wanted to be an athlete or an astronaut when she was a child.
“I didn’t become an astronaut, but I’m always looking up to the stars and today, July 12th, 2023, I am a star here,” she said. “I’m so grateful for this, I’m honored and humbled.”
.@SheilaEdrummer jamming after her star ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame ? #sheilae @WalkofFameStar #walkoffame #hollywood #losangeles pic.twitter.com/6vffYW320G
— Musicians Institute (@MIHollywood) July 12, 2023
Former Beatle and legendary drummer Ringo Starr told the audience Sheila E. joined him on one of his All-Starr Band tours.
“I’m proud to call Sheila E. a friend and to be here to say a few words about this incredible woman,’” Starr said. “Sheila E. is also a force of nature.”
Grammy and Oscar-winning singer H.E.R. said she was inspired by Sheila E. as a kid. At age 13, she watched the percussionist perform with Prince.
“That was the moment that changed my life forever, because in that moment I knew, like, I could do it,” she said. “I’m looking at this amazing woman, musician, multi-instrumentalist on stage with another musician that I love, and I was so inspired.”
After the ceremony, Grammy-nominated artist Sheila E. performed with other musicians.
The percussionist released her debut album, The Glamorous Life, in 1984. The album included the top 10 hit of the same name and the top 40 single “The Belle of St. Mark.”
She performed at the opening ceremony of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, as well as the Oscars and the Kennedy Center Honors. She has received two Emmy nominations, including for outstanding music direction in 2020 for “Let’s Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute To Prince.”
She has also been featured on the soundtracks for the films Bad Boys for Life (2020), The Lion King (2019), The Boss Baby (2017), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and many other movies.
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