Born and raised in Oakland, California, Sheila began her music career as a percussionist for the George Duke Band in 1976.

Born in Oakland, California, Sheila E. is the daughter of Juanita Gardere, a dairy factory worker, and percussionist Pete Escovedo, with whom she frequently performs.

[9][better source needed] She has publicly stated that, at the age of five, she was raped by her teenaged babysitter, and this event had a profound influence on her childhood development.

Escovedo appeared Duke's albums, including Don't Let Go (1978), Follow the Rainbow (1979), Master of the Game (1979), and A Brazilian Love Affair (1980).

Billboard 200 and sold over 500,000 copies in the United States,[11] becoming certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

[12] The album's lead single "The Glamorous Life" peaked in the top-ten on the US Hot 100 and at number one on the US Dance chart.

[12] It sold over 500,000 copies in the United States, becoming certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

[12] The album's lead single "Sister Fate" was released to moderated success, peaking in the top-forty on the US R&B chart.

[11] The second single A Love Bizarre" was a commercial success, reaching number eleven in the United States.

[11] In November 1985, Sheila appeared as the female lead in the musical comedy-drama film Krush Groove, which spent its first weekend at number two on the U.S. box office and grossed $11 million.

[15] Sheila released "Holly Rock" as a single from its soundtrack album which entered the top ten in the Belgium and the Netherlands.

The album's lead single "Sex Cymbal" became a moderate hit on the R&B chart, peaking at number thirty-two.

[16] In July 1996, Sheila appeared as a percussionist and background vocalist on Japanese singer Namie Amuro's album Sweet 19 Blues.

On June 14, 2008, Sheila E. performed at the Rhythm on the Vine Music and Wine Festival at the South Coast Winery in Temecula, California for Shriners Hospital for Children.

[17] On May 30, 2009, Sheila E. and the E Family Band performed at Rhythm on the Vine at Gainey Vineyard in Santa Ynez, California for the Hot Latin Beats concert.

[18] On December 13, 2009, Sheila E. performed at the Deryck Walcott produced Christmas Jazz held at the Plantation Restaurant in Barbados.

A video for the song debuted on CMT on March 7, 2009, following the airing of the episode of Gone Country in which Sheila E. was announced the winner.

On February 26, 2012, Sheila performed at the 2012 Academy Awards alongside Pharrell Williams and Hans Zimmer, playing the into and out of commercial segments.

[22] On June 16, Sheila headlined the 2012 Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California.

[22] In 2016, Sheila provided drums for the orchestral soundtrack to the blockbuster superhero films Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

On June 26, 2016, Sheila and The New Power Generation led a musical tribute to late singer Prince at the 2016 BET Awards.

She performed and served as music director for Let's Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Prince concert at the Staples Center on January 28, 2020.

[28] Sheila became the music director for the 2023 CBS bilingual, multicultural game show Lotería Loca.

She underwent a two-week long treatment to rebuild her calf muscle and regain the ability to walk.

She is also an inductee of the National Museum of African American History and Culture,[44] and the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame,[45] making her the first female to receive this achievement.

With headquarters in Los Angeles, the company serves as an umbrella for the entertainer's various brands in music, videos, and concert films.

Stiletto Flats Music's first production was the concert film Sheila E. Summer Tour 2012: Raw And Real, Live In Lugano Switzerland (2012).

In 2006, the Elevate Hope Foundation hosted the Circle of Passion charity fashion show at Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles.

In 2011, Sheila, Lynn Mabry, Yoshie Akiba, and Jason Hofmann formed Elevate Oakland (formerly known as 51Oakland), a nonprofit organization.

[50] The organization provides music and arts programs to public schools located in Oakland, California.