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1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CITY OF PALMDALE NEWS RELEASE CONTACT: John Mlynar PHONE: 661/267-5115 DATE: July 14, 2017 Sheila E. Set to Groove the Palmdale Amphitheater on Saturday PALMDALE – The “Queen of Percussion,” R&B and pop sensation Sheila brings her grooves to the Palmdale Amphitheater this Saturday, July 15 at 8 pm. General admission tickets are available at www.PalmdaleAmphitheater.com for $20. Gates open at 6 pm. Parking is free. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on. Food, beer and wine are available on site for purchase. Known for hits like “The Glamorous Life,” “The Belle of St. Mark,” “Hold Me,” “Sister Fate” and A Love Bizarre,” she is a world-class drummer and percussionist whose performance collaborations with Ringo Starr, Marvin Gaye, Prince, Beyoncé, Herbie Hancock, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, Gloria Estefan and George Duke read like chapters in a music history book. Born into a musical family, Sheila Escovedo (Sheila has been driven by an inner her entire life. When she gave her first public performance at the age of 5, there was no doubt in her mind that she was going to be a percussionist. Music, and a passion for connecting with others were in her blood, after all. “I wasn’t just born into an environment with music; I was of music,” she writes in her memoir, The Beat Of My Own Drum. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 As a young girl, she 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. Growing 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. Early in her career, Sheila met Prince backstage at a show—who helped light a fire that led to the launch of her solo career. At the age of 25, Sheila began writing songs and experimenting with different types of music. Playing the drums and keyboard and singing her own vocals, Sheila taught herself how to record a demo using equipment she’d purchased herself. After lending her vocals on Prince’s hit “Erotic City”, the two worked together to produce her first album, The Glamorous Life. Unlike any other ’80s artist, Sheila combined her Latin, jazz, R&B, pop, and rock influences to create her own unique style for the album. The album’s title track made the U.S. top 10, with the entire album reaching number 28 on the U.S. Billboard 200. After fifty years of performing and seven solo albums, Sheila is still sharing her passion with others through her latest musical offering, Icon. In addition to being a fearless multi-instrumentalist, she is a Grammy Award-nominated singer/songwriter, actress, mentor, and philanthropist, including the co-founding of the Elevate Hope Foundation and Elevate Oakland. Other concerts coming this summer to the Palmdale Amphitheater include Trace Adkins on July 29, Gerald Albright and Jeanette Harris on Aug. 5, and Queen Nation ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 and the Police Experience on Aug. 12. Tickets are available at www.PalmdaleAmphitheater.com. The Palmdale Amphitheater is generously sponsored by AVTA, Hunter Dodge Jeep Ram, Waste Management, Coca-Cola, American Medical Response, Logix Smarter Banking, AV Mall, Valleywide Dental, Heritage Sierra Medical Group, Hilton Garden Inn, Staybridge Suites, Opportunities for Learning, Lancaster JetHawks, Ventura Graphix, and Vince’s Pasta & Pizza. About The Amp The Amp at Marie Kerr Park is the Antelope Valley’s premier outdoor entertainment venue, providing audiences with a blend of high-energy concert performances and community-based programming. Its convenient location, great sight lines and comfortable, grassy seating areas are complemented by Saturday evening concerts and Friday evening Family Movie Nights presented during summer months, and a host of charity walks, concerts, graduations, services and events throughout the year. Previous performers at The Amp have included Blake Shelton, The Beach Boys, Lonestar, The Spinners, The Four Tops, Loverboy, The Tempations, The Guess Who, America, SheDaisy, The Rascals, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Chaka Khan, The Whispers, Mercy Me, Pablo Cruise, War, Euge Groove, The Rippingtons, Jeff Golub, The Village People, Starship featuring Mickey Thomas, Pam Tillis, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Bill Medley, Blind Boys of Alabama, Sugarland, Air Supply, Newsboys, Peter Noone and Herman’s Hermits, Tracy Lawrence, Josh Kelly, Blue Oyster Cult, Los ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 Lobos, Montez de Durango, Blood Sweat and Tears, Clay Walker, Morris Day and the Time, Fifth Harmony, Banda Machos, The Commodores, LeAnn Rimes and Phil Vassar. -30- Communications Department 38300 Sierra Highway Palmdale, CA 93550 www.cityofpalmdale.org