On the simple joy of watching Sheila E. shred on the drums

So yes, today is the great Sheila E.’s birthday… Ms. Escovedo may be well known for her collaborations with Prince, particularly on two of her albums, The Glamorous Life and A Love Bizarre—but she was a well-established percussionist far before she ever set foot in the studio with the Great Purple One. After picking up drumming from her father, Pedro Escovedo, also a famous percussionist, she started out with the George Duke band in the 70s, and by her 20s had played with Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, and Herbie Hancock. In Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough” she got summoned by The Quincy himself to aid with percussion - that’s her, playing water bottles in the back. Apparently there is nothing the woman can’t use to drum.

Which all brings us to today’s dose of happiness: Watching Sheila E. shred on the drums. I don’t even want to contemplate the stiletto heels this lady always seemed to have on while doing this, because then my brain will explode into 20 separate pieces. Nor do I want to think about the fact I have no drumming skills whatsoever and was always too lazy to learn another instrument after the piano, and so no, I can’t mentally superimpose dopey Corina face over hers and dream of what could be. I just know I want to watch this on steady repeat. Especially the part where she loses the sticks and just uses her bare hands like blunt instruments. Goddamn girl.

Happy Birthday, Queen.

Also, might I say, the women still has it. This is from a month ago…