Friday’s Fitztory feat Sheila E
Greetings, I sincerely hope everyone reading this is all good in the hood in their iSOULated surroundings. Today’s Friday Fitztory was influenced by the 4th anniversary of Prince Rogers Nelson’s passing earlier in the week. I went on a ‘Purple Funk’ bender and refreshed myself of his Royal Purpleness’s everlasting legacy and genius. I had a lightbulb moment remembering that several artists I have interviewed in The Soul Survivors Magazine had a connection or have worked with Prince. That list includes Larry Graham, Mica Paris, Meli’sa Morgan, Gary Hines (Sounds Of Blackness), Rockie Robbins and the focus of today’s Fitztory, is renowned percussionist and singer from the talented Escovedo family Sheila E. Sheila graced the front cover of issue this time five years ago for the April & May 2015 edition..I will be doing a two hour Prince homage featuring music and recorded extracts of some of the interviewees who talk about prince this Sunday morning 26th April 2020 2am-4am on www.solaradio.com Read and enjoy.
Fitzroy : “Your transformation from Sheila the percussionist to becoming Sheila E the one woman band, vocalist, percussionist extraordinaire comes when you meet Prince in 1978 although you didn’t join him till the around 1984. He’s already hinted that he wanted to work with you so how was that experience becoming a band member, going on tour and dare I say it making music with him like the funk and sexy ‘Love Bizarre’?”
Sheila E : “Prince came to the Bay Area to record his first record based on all the amazing artistry that came from the Bay area like when my father was was in Santana and Sly & The Family Stone had recorded in the earlier 1960’s and 70’s. When I went to see Prince perform I was excited meet him and when I did was introduced he told me he already knew who I was, and had been following my career for a while. He asked how much I got working for George Duke and on my reply he said he wouldn’t be able to afford me, but I said we’ll see in the future if that transpires and exchanged numbers. He met my family and fell in love with the concept that I got to play with my family which is what he wanted to do with his dad. I don’t think he knew alot about latin jazz and was completely taken aback with the vibrancy of it all. I had grown up with Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship, Cold Blood as well as Sly Stone who inspired me. We stayed in touch and we were both touring on our individual circuits and got together around the ‘Purple Rain’ era. It was a lot of fun recording in the studios and doing jam sessions.”
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