Most of you in the San Francisco Bay Area know that Sheila E is the daughter of band leader and percussionist Pete Escovedo. Sheila E is also a drummer and percussionist, and has worked with Prince and Ringo Starr. Prince and Sheila E joined forces in 1978 and eventually came up with Purple Rain. She ended up as the opening act on the Purple Rain Tour. She has also played with Lionel Ritchie, Marvin Gaye, Herbie Hancock, and Diana Ross. She has added Phil Collins, Beyonce, among others.
Sheila E caught a bad cold here in arctic Seattle!
She and her father, Big Pete are in Seattle this (Sunday) evening at Jazz Alley, just a stone’s throw or 7 iron from our hotel in Belltown. Jazz Alley has hosted most of the jazz greats over the years, plus our friend Katie always give us one of the best seats in the house! Big Pete was born in Pittsburg, CA, just a few miles up the road from Pleasant Hill. He has served as music director for many well-known artists, and shows, including the Wayne Brady Show, and the Martin Short Show, along with performers like Luther Vandross, Barry Manilow, Justin Timberlake, Mos Def, Stevie Nicks, Mariah Carey, Chick Corea, Stephen Stills, Barry White, Lionel Ritchie, and Tina Turner.
As a youngster, growing up poor, he had to make his own bongos out of duct tape and old coffee cans. In 1956, he married his high school sweetheart. Of their four children, Sheila E is the oldest and most famous. His big break came in 1972 when Carlos Santana asked Pete and his brother Coke to join his band. They played with Santana for three years before branching out on their own. Lucky for us who like the soft but invigorating music of this great innovator. But I also think he and his orchestra played at most of the Forty Niner football games.
Big Pete at the White House
We came all this way from the Bay Area to see entertainers from Pittsburg. Who will believe us? And best of all, our dear Katie is the hostess here, so we always get a primo seat. It cannot get any better. My friend Ed, who lives up here, said that Big Pete and Sheila are not allowed to play any free concerts in the Bay Area since it draws too many people for the police to handle.
But first, a birthday dinner for madame at Mistral Kitchen last night. The pork belly appetizer was superb, and rather decadent, especially with the curry and pineapple. Main dish was a superb white fish called fluke from Japan. And dessert was a soft pound cake with coconut ice cream, smothered in lime meringue. Then a short jaunt over to Jazz Alley. Nightcap?
