'80s Star Sheila E. Is Still A Stunner In Her 60s
Sheila E. was a defining force of the 1980s music scene, with unmatched talent and a commanding stage presence that not even the great Prince could ignore. With big hair (a fun '80s hair trend you can still wear today), bold fashion, and high-energy performances, Sheila E. embodied '80s glam while setting a new standard for what a performer could be. Her ability as a singer, songwriter, and world-class percussionist saw her make the impossible look effortless through electrifying sets where she commanded the room from behind the drums and at the microphone.
Even decades after her '80s reign, Sheila E. continues to tour, create music, and show how true talent, natural beauty, and originality never go out of style. The celeb still looks stunning in her 60s, rocking her fierce bikini body in an Instagram video. "Celebrating my birthday every day. 69 here I come Dec 12th 🔥🔥💯💕🙏🏽 U have to celebrate ur life too!!!" she captioned the post. The video showed Sheila E. relishing the glamorous beach life while wearing a black two-piece swimsuit.
The sultry birthday post capped off an eventful year for "The Queen of Percussion" that saw her win her first Grammy over 40 years into her career. Despite dominating the music scene in the '80s, with her classic hit "The Glamorous Life" reaching the Billboard Top 10, Sheila E. didn't win her first Grammy until 2025 when she won Best Global Music Performance for "Bemba Colorá," a song she created with Gloria Estefan and Mimy Succar.
Sheila E. still has a lot of fun performing live
Born into a musical family, Sheila E. knew from childhood that she was destined for the stage. Born Sheila Escovedo in 1957, the Oakland native grew up surrounded by music thanks to her percussionist father, the legendary Pete Escovedo, her four musician uncles, and her godfather, the iconic Tito Puente. Her unique sound saw her captivate the '80s music scene with her seamless fusion of funk, R&B, pop, jazz, and global beats.
Following her first live performance for 3,000 at age five, Sheila E. learned early how to captivate audiences during her live sets. By the 1980s, Sheila was commanding crowds all on her own in a variety of iconic celeb outfits from the '80s that defined the era.
Launching her career as the protégé of Prince and going on to share stages with Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, and Diana Ross, Sheila E. has made high-energy performances her signature. Percussion work brings its own benefits to the upper body and core, but it takes a lot more to get those toned abs Sheila E. is able to show off in her 60s. "Just finishing working out. Whew!!!" she captioned an Instagram post. "This is not easy but I'm not giving up."