ON tHE ROAD WITH tHE NPG

Behind the scenes and RARE exclusive backstage footage documenting the highest grossing tour of 2004 Prince's Musicology 2004ever Tour.

MONtREUX JAZZ fEStiVAL tV - RAPHAEL SAADiQ

Artist & Musician Profile

RAPHAEL SAADiQ

UNSUNG DOCUMENTARY - SHEiLA E.

Born in California, Sheila E. is the daughter of percussionist Pete Escovedo, with whom she frequently performs. Sheila E's uncle is Alejandro Escovedo. Tito Puente was Escovedo's godfather. She is also niece to Javier Escovedo, founder of seminal San Diego punk act, The Zeros. Another uncle, Mario Escovedo, fronted long-running indie rockers, The Dragons. Escovedo is of Mexican, African-American and Creole heritage. Coke Escovedo, who was in Santana and formed the band Azteca, was also her uncle. Nicole Richie is Sheila E.'s biological niece.
She made her recording debut with jazz bassist Alphonso Johnson on "Yesterday's Dream" in 1976. By her early twenties she had already played with George Duke, Lionel Richie, Marvin Gaye, Herbie Hancock, and Diana Ross. She also plays tuba and guitar.

Prince met Sheila E. at a concert in 1978, when she was performing with her father. After the show, he met her and told her that he and his bassist "We're just fighting about which one of us would be the first to be your husband". He also prophetically vowed that one day she would join his band. The two would eventually join forces during the Purple Rain recording sessions. She provided vocals on the B-side to "Let's Go Crazy", "Erotic City" in 1984. Taken under Prince's wing, she proved to be a successful artist. In 1984 she scored hits with "The Glamorous Life" and "The Belle of St. Mark", the latter an NME 'Single of the Week'.[2] She opened for the Purple Rain tour and there was a segment where she would have a man called up on stage and seated in a chair while she sang "Next Time Wipe The Lipstick Off Your Collar" and teased him (similarly mirrored by Janet Jackson during the "Rope Burn" segment of her Velvet Rope Tour in 1998/99.) Around the same time, the collaborating duo began a romantic relationship, while Prince was still seeing Susannah Melvoin, twin sister of The Revolution band member, Wendy Melvoin. Among other girlfriends Prince had at the time.

In 1985, she released Romance 1600, scored another hit with the track "A Love Bizarre", and the non-album track "Holly Rock" made its way to live shows and into the film Krush Groove. She was also nominated for an American Music Award and a Grammy for "The Glamorous Life". Sheila E. recorded three albums during the '80s, The Glamorous Life, Romance 1600, and Sheila E.. She appeared in four films, Krush Groove with Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J and Blair Underwood in 1985, Prince's concert film, Sign 'O' the Times in 1987, The Adventures of Ford Fairlane and Chasing Papi in 2003.

During the Sign o' the Times, Black Album, and Lovesexy periods of Prince's career (including the Lovesexy World Tour), Sheila E. served as his drummer and musical director in his backup band, dubbed The New Power Generation not long after her departure. During the Sign o' the Times era, she released the single "Koo Koo" from her 3rd album Sheila E., which had Sign o' the Times member Cat as a backup dancer in the accompanying video. Sheila E. also served as a writer and musician on many of Prince's records, as well as on the albums of his protégés such as Madhouse.

tAkE tHiS BEAt (i DON't MiND)

 

 PRiNCE And tHE LOVESEXY BAND - Take This Beat / The Palace L.A. Aftershow 1988 

Take this beat, I don't mind

I got plenty others and they so fine

I said take this beat, I don't mind

I got plenty others and they so fine

Take my coffee, but don't U touch my cream

Make me holler, make me scream

Your sister ugly, that's the truth

She pees in the backyard, sleep on the roof

Take this beat, U know U need it

I give U a white dove, why'nt U feed it?

I gave U sweet love, U put it in the corner

Gave U candy, U say U don't want it

Take this beat, I don't mind 

(Lord!)

I got plenty others and they so fine

Take this… take this beat

Teal-blue overcoat on my back

'67 T-Bird, heart attack

I got peace-sign sneakers, pleated slacks

Don't fuck with me, I'll slap yo' ass!

Take this beat, I don't mind

I got plenty others and they so fine

Take this beat, I don't mind

I got plenty others and they so fine

They so fine

They so fine, so fine

I don't mind

(Oh Lord)

Bass and Drums!

PRiNCE: A MUSiCAL PORTRAIT

A Musical Portrait by endicott85

Featuring testimonies from: Miles Davis, Little Richard, Quincy Jones, George Clinton, Eric Clapton, Sheila E, Terence Trent D'arby and...

PRiNCE ON LOPEZ tONiGHt & 21 NiGHtS At L.A. fORUM!!!

Prince calls George Lopez to announce a 21-day run at the L.A. Forum starting April 14!!
But not before he stops by "Lopez Tonight" next Wednesday, April 13 for a performance that Prince says will "blow the roof off" of George's studio!

Rare Prince interview - shows off guitar, donating $2 million for music & art program charities

the state of the music industry, and his sure to be sold out, record breaking 21 nights at the forum concerts in Los Angeles!

Prince & The NPG with Sheila E. blow the roof off Lopez Tonight!
this guy never ceases to amaze me.
The greatest band leader, musical arranger, musician, live performer, and a true artist.
no gimmicks here folks...
just straight up music by real musicians.

PRESS PLAY

"...what did i say? i hate to tell ya but i told you! !*%@!! crazzay!"

A MUSiCAL PORTRAiT

Directed by: Albert Magnoli

The director of the film Purple Rain and music videos Scandalous and Partyman

PRiNCE AND tHE REVOLUtiON - NOON RENDEZVOUS

 

Prince And The Revolution - Noon Rendezvous by SLiM JAMS & tHE 4kORNERS

PRiNCE AND tHE REVOLUTION

NOON RENDEZVOUS

RECORDED LiVE At fIRSt AVENUE

~ 1984 ~

SONG DEDICAtiON tO MiSS SHEiLA E. fROM PRINCE