The Latin music legend – back, at 66, with her first salsa album – answers your questions on her star collaborations, screen chemistry, and what she and Stevie Wonder still can’t agree on
When did you first know you were a drummer? axolotly
I still don’t know if I’m a “drummer”! Sometimes people mean percussion – like congas and timbales – and sometimes they mean drum set, which wasn’t a thing for me until I played with George Duke in the mid-70s. My dad [Pete Escovedo, a well-known Mexican American jazz percussionist] played and practised at the house every day. I’d have heard him while I was in my mother’s womb. I couldn’t reach his percussion instruments so my mum would put the pots and pans on the floor and I’d bang along on those. I played with a local band when I was 15 and I learned a lot from Billy Cobham, and would play his drums for a minute, but sitting in with George Duke for one song was enough to start me playing drums.
Was there anything that stopped you progressing as a female musical artist and have these problems lessened today? Whovian79
Growing up in Oakland, California there were a lot of jam sessions in the streets and parks. A lot of young women would bring shakers, djembes and such. Once I knew I could play, I’d go to concerts and ask if I could sit in. Lots of times they said no so I’d go to the other side of the stage and get someone to say yes. Once I left home and started flying to Los Angeles to play with other artists I did experience male chauvinism – “You’re a girl. Girls don’t play drums” – until word of mouth was that Sheila Escovedo can play. Now there are more female drummers and percussionists all over the world. I message them on social media and just say: “Hey, I’m a fan.” There’s so many that I reach out to on a daily basis.
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