Feel the beat with Sheila E. at UAB’s Alys Stephens Center on Sept. 15

Percussionist Sheila E., known for hits including “The Glamorous Life” and “A Love Bizarre,” has performed with Prince, Beyoncé, Herbie Hancock, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie and others.

sheila e release 2017The show is set for 8 p.m. Tickets are $59, $49 and $39. Food trucks will be at the center starting at 6 p.m., and bars will open at 6:30.World-class drummer and percussionist Sheila E. will perform Friday, Sept. 15, presented by the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center.

The show is set for 8 p.m. Tickets are $59, $49 and $39. For tickets, call 205-975-2787 or visit www.AlysStephens.org. HOT 107.7 is a supporting sponsor and will be on-site at the center before the performance. Food trucks will be at the center starting at 6 p.m., and bars will open at 6:30.

UAB faculty may purchase $25 tickets; a limited number of $25 tickets are available for most performances. UAB students may purchase $10 tickets. UAB student tickets must be purchased with valid student ID at the ASC Box Office. Limit one ticket per student, and a limited number of tickets are available for each show. Faculty and staff may receive a 20 percent discount on single tickets.

Guided by the forces of family, faith and music, Sheila E. has made a name for herself as a talented musical icon over the decades. Born into a musical family, Sheila Escovedo was immersed in the diverse music scenes of the Bay Area — influenced and inspired by her percussionist father Pete Escovedo; musical uncles Coke Escovedo, Alejandro Escovedo, Mario Escovedo and Javier Escovedo; and godfather Tito Puente. As she grew up in the Escovedo household, musical instruments were for everyone. “Nobody cared as long as you could keep time (or have a good time),” she wrote in her memoir, “The Beat of My Own Drum.”

Sheila E. has performed with Ringo Starr, Marvin Gaye, Prince, Beyoncé, Herbie Hancock, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, Gloria Estefan and George Duke, among others. A fearless multi-instrumentalist, she is equally proficient on guitar and bass. One of life’s constants for her comes down to a simple phrase: follow the beat. Her impeccable inner rhythm is the pulse behind a trailblazing career that still knows no bounds.

With a fearless nature and a passion for sharing her gifts with others, Sheila follows the beat of her own drum. Her eagerness to share her music, openness as an author and fire for her ministry make her a relatable, inspirational figure for people of all ages, according to her website bio.

“To me, the stage is like my living room, or my home, and when you come over to my house, I have to be a hostess and invite you in so that we can have a great time,” she wrote.

  • September 15