Sheila E., a Grammy and Emmy-nominated musician and percussionist, will discuss her music and career on Oct. 28 at Rhodes College as part of its Springfield Music Lecture Series.
The Springfield Music Lecture Series was established in 1991 by a bequest from the late John Murry Springfield, a 1951 Rhodes graduate. Springfield lecturers make presentations that foster an increased appreciation of music as an academic discipline.
Born Sheila Escovedo in Oakland, CA, Sheila E. gave her first public performance when she was five years old, appearing alongside her famous father, Pete Escovedo, in front of a crowd of 3,000. Her debut album, The Glamorous Life, spun off the Grammy Award-nominated top 10 hit of the same name.
As a Grammy and Emmy-nominated artist, Sheila E. has been a major concert draw since the ’90s and along the way has acted in the films Krush Groove, The Adventures of Ford Fairlane, and Chasing Papi. Sheila E. is CEO of the entertainment company Stiletto Flats Music, Inc. and has launched various music projects. Her first-ever Salsa album, Bailar, was released this year. On the album, Sheila E. teamed up with Gloria Estefan and Mimy Succar to cover Celia Cruz’s classic “Bemba Colorá.” She is the recipient of the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and the first female solo percussionist to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The Rhodes College Jazz ensembles will open the event with various selections, followed by Sheila E. joining them. Afterward, Dr. Charles L. Hughes, music historian and associate professor of urban studies at Rhodes, will moderate a question-and-answer session with the world-famous drummer.
Although the event is free and open to the public, admission passes are required and will be sent on a first-come, first-serve basis to attendees using the registration link: https://fs22.formsite.com/webmanagerrhodesedu/rywcxhsabt/index
Admission passes for Rhodes faculty, staff, and students will be available at Rhodes Express.
The event begins at 6 p.m. in McNeill Concert Hall on Rhodes West Campus, located at 613 University Street. The doors to McNeill Concert Hall will open at 5:15 p.m.
Those with specific inquiries about the Rhodes event on Oct. 28 can contact the Rhodes College Department of Music by emailing music@rhodes.edu or by calling 901-843-3775.