Sheila E. Dances to Her Own Beat — and a Grammy

Sheila E. has been called many things: trailblazer, icon, virtuoso, even royalty. But this year, at long last, she added a long-overdue accolade to her name: Grammy winner. At 66, the Queen of Percussion claimed her first Grammy Award for Best Global Music Performance with her powerful rendition of "Bemba Colorá," a tribute to Celia Cruz featuring Gloria Estefan and Mimy Succar.

"It's never too late," she tells Miami New Times with a smile. "I tell people that all the time. Don't give up on your dreams. I love making music, and this year, I finally got to do the salsa album I've wanted to make my entire life."

That album is Bailar, co-produced with Tony Succar. But just when you thought she was done, Sheila delivered a cultural one-two punch: Bailar Deluxe, released May 16, added three new tracks, including the powerhouse "Mi Rumba y Tambor" with La India, the intimate ballad "Vuelvo" written by Latin Grammy-winner Claudia Brant, and a Latin reimagining of Sheila's iconic hit "The Glamorous Life." One week later, she followed with Sheila E. & Friends: Bailar Instrumentals, stripping vocals to spotlight the rhythmic conversation.

What makes Bailar Deluxe especially powerful is that it's not just a musical statement — it's a Miami-rooted experience.

From the studio to the stage — all roads led to Miami.

The official music video for "Bemba Colorá," directed by Shae Sterling, was filmed in Miami, specifically at The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater. The video sets the scene with a tropical Afro-Caribbean vibe: domino tables, cigars, a sultry beat. Then comes the power trio — Sheila, Gloria Estefan, and Mimy Succar — lighting up the screen with rhythm, sisterhood, and homage to Celia Cruz.

But that wasn't the only moment Miami played muse. Later, Sheila E. returned to The Fillmore to re-record the entire album live on stage — this time for a special visual project that captured the full scope of Bailar with all-star guests and a roaring audience. That session birthed the live Latin version of "The Glamorous Life", now included on Bailar Deluxe.
"It had to be Miami," Sheila says. "It's the cultural heart of this music. It felt like home. Everything about Bailar lives and breathes Miami, from the studio to the video, to the stage."

New ground, same heart

Bailar Deluxe is full of firsts. "Vuelvo" marks Sheila's first time recording a song entirely in Spanish, and it's also the only ballad on the album. Written by the acclaimed Claudia Brant, the track expands the album's emotional range, softening the edges without losing any of its force.

Then there's "Mi Rumba y Tambor," her collaboration with La India, two legendary women shaking the earth with drums, brass, and bravura.

Sheila honors her roots through innovative arrangements, like the rumba-conga-and-drum solo on "Bemba Colorá," and a blistering take on "El Rey del Timbal," her tribute to godfather Tito Puente. "Being a woman and taking a drum solo on that song, no one had done that," she says. "I just wanted to bring it to life. To honor Tito, Celia, and everyone who came before us."

Full circle moments

Sheila's journey is lined with them. She grew up in Oakland with a legendary musical lineage — her father, Pete Escovedo; her godfather, Tito Puente. But she didn't always see music in her future. "I was an athlete," she says. "I ran track, played on an undefeated women's soccer team for five years. I was training for the Olympics." That changed when her father invited her to take a solo at age 15. "It was an out-of-body experience. I knew right then — this is what I was meant to do."

From there, the path unfolded like a dream: performing with Prince, Lionel Richie, Marvin Gaye, Beyoncé. Recording classics like "A Love Bizarre." Becoming musical director for Prince's Lovesexy tour. And now — a Grammy winner, finally.
In 2023, she became the first female percussionist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. "When I first moved to L.A. from Oakland, I lived ten blocks from where I got that star," she recalls. "It was surreal. Full circle."

Music as healing, and as a legacy

Her 2014 memoir The Beat of My Own Drum explores trauma, resilience, and spirituality. And even now, she describes music as her first language, her daily ritual. "Music is my food, my water, my air," she says. "I wake up, play music, dance while brushing my teeth — it sets the tone for my day. When I'm hurting, it brings me back to life."

She's taken that belief to the community through Elevate Oakland, her foundation promoting music education in underserved schools. "So many kids don't even know this music exists," she says. "But it's our culture. It's who we are."

Sheila E. knows young girls are watching, especially young Latinas. And she has a message for them: "To all the young women out there, whatever your dream is, don't wait for permission. When you find your passion and it becomes your purpose, your whole life shifts. Don't base your worth on likes or filters. Love yourself. Be true to who you are. The rest will follow."