Krush Groove (soundtrack) (30th anniversary)

Welcome to another edition of Soundtrack Saturday.

Today we're celebrating the 30th anniversary of the soundtrack from Krush Groove, the rap-infused film starring the Fat Boys, Run-D.M.C., Sheila E. and Kurtis Blow. The album spent a total of twenty weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 79.

For my full review, click here.

Sheila E - Romance 1600 (30th anniversary)

Today (August 12th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Romance 1600, the second studio album from Sheila E. This one spent a total of thirty-three weeks on the US Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 50.

For my complete review, click here.

For more from Sheila E, click here.

Sheila E - the Glamorous Life (30th anniversary)

Today (June 23rd) marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Glamorous Life, the debut album from Sheila E. The 1984 release spent forty-six weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 28.

Click here for my full review.

For more albums featuring Sheila E., click here.

Happy Birthday, Sheila E.

Happy fifty-fourth birthday today (December 12th) to percussionist extraordinaire Sheila Escovedo.

Born in California, Sheila grew up in a family of music. Her father is the famous Mexican-American jazz percussionist Pete Escovedo, and her uncle Alejandro Escovedo has worked with groups like the Nuns, and Rank and File. Jazz/salsa musician Tito Puente is her godfather.

The E Family - Now & Forever

The saying goes “the family that plays together stays together”. If that’s the case, and I certainly believe it is true, the Escovedo family has nothing to worry about.

This first family of Latin-American music is led by their patriarch Pete Escovedo. Born in 1935, he and his two brothers formed the Escovedo Brothers Latin Jazz Sextet. He then worked with Santana and even led the Latin Big band Azteca. His talented children are daughter Sheila E. and sons Peter Michael Escovedo III and Juan Escovedo, all equally famous percussionists and band leaders in their own rights.

Sheila E - Romance 1600

After a solid debut the previous year (click here for my review of The Glamorous Life), singer-drummer-percussionist Sheila E. followed it up with her 1985 second studio album Romance 1600. Like her first record, Prince had a strong hand on many of the songs, enhancing her musical style and persona. This record went to number 50 on the US Billboard Album chart and number 12 on the US Billboard R&B Album chars.

Krush Groove (soundtrack)

Welcome to another edition of Soundtrack Sunday.

In October of 1985, Warner Brothers studio released the film Krush Groove that was loosely based on the early days of Def Jam Recordings and record producer Russell Simmons (played by Blair Underwood). The record label in the film was called Krush Groove, with over a half dozen real-life musical artists (playing themselves) as the various acts on the fictious label.

Prince - Sign O' The Times

In 1987, Prince released his ninth studio ninth studio album Sign O’ the Times. This was his second double-album of all-new material in just five years, and it featured material from a number of proposed projects he was working on from 1982 to 1986.

Sign O’ the Times is one of my top five favorite Prince albums of all time, and easily in my top 25 favorite of the 80’s. I purchased this one on vinyl during my final year of college and later purchased it on cassette too (so I would have a copy to listen to in the car). In the 90‘s, this was another one of the first albums I upgraded to CD. I have listened to this one end-to-end countless times over in the past twenty-four years. I think the record is simply amazing.

Sheila E - the Glamorous Life

Sheila E. is the singer/drummer/percussionist daughter of percussionist Pete Escovedo. From her father, she developed strong roots in Latin and jazz. When she met Prince, who penned four of the six tracks on her debut, she added to the mix some funk and sex. The results are her amazing June of 1984 debut album The Glamorous Life.