August 11th, 2016 8:00 p.m.

Oliver Jones and Sheila E. will participate in a unique multidisciplinary artistic showcase presented at the Rio Media Center (RMC) on Thursday, August 11, at 8 pm. They are sharing the stage with other world-renown artists such as prodigy Daniel Clarke Bouchard, Florence K and Queen Ka.

Sheila E.

New Sheila E. Single “Girl Meets Boy”

A world-class drummer, percussionist, singer, songwriter, entertainer, author, humanitarian, mentor, actress—Sheila E. is a dynamic public figure who has been driven by a steadfast inner rhythm since the day she was born. “Before I had language, I had rhythm,” she writes in her recently-published memoir, The Beat Of My Own Drum. “I learned it before I learned my mother tongue.” When Sheila gave her first public performance at the age of 5, there was no doubt in her mind that she was going to be a percussionist. Music, rhythm, and a passion for connecting with others were in her blood, after all. “I wasn’t just born into an environment with music; I was of music,” she writes. Fifty years later, Sheila is still sharing her passion with others through her newest album, Icon. Growing up in the Bay Area, Sheila was surrounded by all types of music since birth—introduced to Latin jazz, Motown, R&B, pop, and funk by her musical family members and family friends. Her early influences include percussionist dad Pete Escovedo; musical uncles Santana member/Azteca founder Coke Escovedo, recording artist Alejandro Escovedo, The Dragons frontman Mario Escovedo, and The Zeroes member Javier Escovedo; as well as godfather, Latin star Tito Puente.

Becoming the Iconic Sheila E.

Born Sheila Cecelia Escovedo in 1957 in Oakland, California, Sheila wasn’t always the glamorous superstar we know today. From an early age, though, she knew one thing: she loved music. This love fueled her childhood and adolescent endeavors—from performing with her dad at the age of 5, to playing percussion in a local band in high school, to touring with Azteca in Colombia as a teen.

It didn’t occur to Sheila during this time to make a living off of something she was so passionate about. In her memoir, she recalls a conversation with her dad about compensation for performing. “Why would I accept money to do something I love?” she asked. To which, he replied: “If you are serious about choosing music as your career, you deserve to get paid, and you need to get paid. Never feel ashamed of being paid for doing something you love.”

Early in her career, Sheila met Prince backstage at a show—who helped light a fire that led to the launch of her solo career. At the age of 25, Sheila began writing songs and experimenting with different types of music. Playing the drums and keyboard and singing her own vocals, Sheila taught herself how to record a demo using equipment she’d purchased herself.

After lending her vocals on Prince’s hit “Erotic City”, the two worked together to produce her first album, The Glamorous Life. Unlike any other ’80s artist, Sheila combined her Latin, jazz, R&B, pop, and rock influences to create her own unique style for the album. The album’s title track made the U.S. top 10, with the entire album reaching number 28 on the U.S. Billboard 200.

It was during this time that Sheila Escovedo officially became the iconic Sheila E. we know today. What was once a childhood nickname—due to her peers having trouble pronouncing or spelling her last name—became her stage name, revealed on her debut album.

A Dynamic, Decades-Long Career

Over the years, Sheila E. became a household name: as a singer-songwriter, entertainer, and icon. She became not just one of the best female drummers, but one of the best drummers of all time. For Sheila, her career has never been about making money or becoming famous. It’s been about passion—about the butterflies she feels every time she picks up a drumstick or steps in front of a microphone. “I realized that the day the butterflies are gone is the day I’ll stop playing,” Sheila writes in her memoir.

A musical powerhouse, Sheila has worked with some of the most influential musical acts over the past five decades: Ringo Starr, Marvin Gaye, Prince, Beyoncé, Herbie Hancock, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, Gloria Estefan, George Duke, and more. She’s recorded 7 solo albums, acted in several films, and pursued philanthropic projects that are near to her heart. These include co-founding the Elevate Hope Foundation and Elevate Oakland.

With such an exciting and trailblazing career spanning five decades (and showing no signs of slowing down), it’s impossible to put Sheila E. in a box. The iconic artist has a passion for music, for inspiring others, for evoking change—and enjoys incorporating these into her life and career by any means possible. Whether it’s pouring her heart into a live performance, putting her inner thoughts into song or book form, creating a foundation to support others in need, or sharing her story with people of all ages across the globe, Sheila seeks a personal connection with each audience.

Oliver Jones with Eric Lagacé and Jim Doxas

Oliver Jones, is a Canadian born jazz pianist, organist, composer and arranger. He began studying piano at the age of five at the Union United Church in Little Burgundy, Quebec. In addition to performing at Union United Church when he was a child, he also performed a solo novelty act at the Cafe St. Michel as well as other clubs and theaters in the Montreal area. He started his early touring in Vermont and Quebec with a band called Bandwagon. By the mid-1980s he was travelling throughout Canada, appearing at festivals, concerts and clubs, either as a solo artist or as a trio.

Éric Lagacé, is a Canadian bassist, composer, arranger and teacher in jazz and classical music. After having infructuous results as a guitar, violin, oboe and tuba player, he finally picked-up the double-bass as a teenager and turned towards music of his time, namely jazz. Not neglecting classical music studies, Eric Lagacé quickly became in demand in the Montréal area in both jazz ensembles and classical orchestras. He started playing professionally at the age of 19, and remains until now one of the most versatile and most appreciated bass player in Canada.

Drummer Jim Doxas was born in Montréal, Canada, into an artistically vibrant family and established himself early on in his career as a versatile percussionist. Heavily influenced by rock, jazz, Motown and world music, his credits on various recordings range from drummer, percussionist and composer. In addition, he is also an established recording engineer and a lecturer at McGill University. Doxas is a popular featured artist at jazz festivals worldwide and has worked with John Abercrombie, Joe Lovano, Hank Jones, Edward Simon, Dave Binney and Maria Schneider.

Florence K

Florence K., is a pianist and singer-songwriter that combines various styles and sounds of the world including; classical, Cuban and Brazilian. Since the launch of Live At Lion D’Or in 2005, the renowned Montreal musician continues to surprise, amaze and fascinate. She has released two beautiful albums, Bossa Blue in 2006 and La Historia De Lola in 2008, both of which have won Félix Awards for World Music Album of the Year.

Daniel Clarke Bouchard

Daniel Clarke Bouchard started playing the piano at the age of five years old and gave his first piano recital at six. In 2009, he won the gold medal at the Montreal Classical Music Festival. In 2010, he took gold in the Concerto Competition as part of the Quebec Music Educators’ Association. Daniel Clarke won first place at the 2011 Canadian Music Competition and received the Yamaha, Canimex and Gilles Chatel scholarships. In 2012, he had the privilege to make his debut with the Metropolitan Orchestra, performing the Mendelssohn piano concerto no.1.

Queen Ka with Blaise Borboen

Queen Ka (birth name Elkahna Talbi), began taking acting classes at age 12. She attended university for interpretation of drama. One evening in January 2006 through the pressure of her sister and friend, she found herself on stage reciting her own poems and was quickly hooked. Since 2008 she has worked with the musician Blaise Borboën Leonard, with whom she puts on a show called Delirium at the Théâtre Aux Stables.

Blaise Borboën-Léonard took private violin lessons for many years and pursued training at the Montreal Conservatory of Music to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a composer. A coffeehouse and bar performer in a variety of bands since the age of 15, Borboën-Léonard created the progressive rock band Triton, which went on to release three albums of original compositions. In 2007, he became the official violinist of the internationally renowned avant-garde metal band Unexpect, with which he performed more than 60 European and North American concerts each year. An in-demand musician with an open musical mind and a taste for eclecticism and musical collaboration, Borboën-Léonard now shares his time between L’ensemble Allogège, Hôtel Morphée, Unexpect and Queen KA.

Alex DePue

Alex DePue began studying classical violin at age five. He won his first university-level competition at age 10, and later (age 14) won a competition that entitled him to perform at Carnegie Hall as Concertmaster for the National Guild Youth Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Joseph Silverstein. Despite his classical training, Alex became interested in fiddling at age seven and began competing in “fiddle” contests. In 2007, Mr. DePue joined legendary rock guitarist Steve Vai for a world tour that took him across North America, South America and Europe. Alex recently teamed up with Mexican guitarist Miguel De Hoyos. Their unique international sound has been praised by elected politicians and officials in the country of Mexico.

Miguel De Hoyos

Miguel De Hoyos began guitar lessons at the age of 11 in his hometown of Monterrey, Mexico. At the age of 13, he entered Muevo Leon State University, studying toward a degree in classical guitar. By 1980, De Hoyos was recognized and selected as the number one choice guitarist by artists and singers visiting Monterrey. In 1990, Miguel De Hoyos founded a band, La Guitarra Por El Mundo, comprised of three guitarists, bass, and percussion, and booked the group throughout Europe. In 2007, De Hoyos met American violin sensation Alex DePue, and together they formed DePue/DeHoyos. The duo has performed throughout Mexico and the United States, and has released one recording, Underground Whispers.

Irlan Santos da Silva

Irlan Silva joined Boston Ballet in 2011 and was promoted to Second Soloist in 2015. He has previously danced with American Ballet Theatre II and as a guest artist in Rio de Janeiro. Silva received his dance training at the Centro de Dance Rio under the direction of Mariza Estrela, and has also worked with Carlos dos Santos. He won the Best Contemporary Dancer Award at Youth America Grand Prix in 2008 and was a Finalist in the Top Twelve Senior Division that same year.

Isabela Coracy

Isabela was born in Brazil and began her vocational training at the Centre for Dance in Rio. She has taken part in many festivals and competitions, including the Joinville Festival and Youth America Grand Prix. As a professional, Isabela has danced with Deborah Colker Dance, Sao Paulo Dance Company, CIA Youth Ballet of Rio de Janeiro and has toured Russia extensively. She has danced in many classics: Don Quixote, Raymonda, Swan Lake and Serenade, as well as modern works, Gnawa(Nacho Duato) and The Double (Mauricio de Oliveira). In 2009, Isabela was featured in the documentary, Only When I Dance, directed by Beaide Finzi. In 2015, she was promoted to Senior Artist and created the role of The Maiden in Mark Bruce’s production of Second Coming.