The Beat of My Own Drum by Sheila E

Author:Sheila E. [E., Sheila]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Atria Books
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

19. Brushes

A drumstick with long wire bristles to make a hissing sound on cymbals

Ain’t no turnin’ back now, got my whole body sweatin’

I can do this all night, ain’t got long before the last song

“DO WHAT IT DO”

THE E FAMILY

Working with Lionel Richie couldn’t have been a more different experience. He had a wealth of experience from his time with the Commodores, and now as a solo artist he was unstoppable, soaring up the charts with his latest blockbuster album Can’t Slow Down, which featured the Grammy-winning hit “All Night Long.”

His on-tour rehearsals were a revelation for me because for the first time I was working on a proper soundstage that had to be built months in advance. The stage show was much more of a spectacle than Marvin’s: so many more technical effects and lighting cues. Not that it’s better—I’m also all for simplicity and purity—it’s just a new level and different.

That tour was just like the tours you hear about or see on TV. Lionel was even more popular than Marvin Gaye at the time, and once I saw him in action I realized why. He’s not only an amazing songwriter, but he’s also funny, personable, and charming.

It was while I was working with Marvin and Lionel that I made the decision to leave home and move to Los Angeles with my friend Connie. I didn’t want to go alone, and since she had great business instincts and a desire to build upon her skills in the entertainment industry, it wasn’t too tough to convince her to make the move with me.

We packed up our belongings and hit the highway. Six hours later (maybe less, because I like to drive fast), two brown girls from East Oakland were taking pictures of each other at all the major tourist spots like the Walk of Fame, plus a few of the lesser-known ones. Hollywood was a dream come true, just like I’d pictured it.

I’d been to LA before—for gigs and on road trips with my family—but now I’d made the leap to live there officially. I loved the idea of having a roomie, but it didn’t last longer than twenty-four hours. On the day we moved in, after we’d just finished unpacking the truck, it was time for me to go out on tour again and for Connie to begin working as a studio assistant for George Duke.

The people who toured with Lionel were an intimate bunch made up of band members, security, crew, and relatives. We were family.

Mideighties fashion was all about shoulder pads and big hair, all glitter and glam. The show featured synchronized flashing lights and multiple stage levels, with dancers and ramps. The greatest thing for me was being allowed my own little spot where I could play a solo, sing along with Lionel, or be featured in some other way. Everyone was so gracious; they really allowed me to shine.

Even though Lionel’s tour was pretty grueling and I didn’t get the rest I needed, given that it came on the heels of so much else I was doing, I loved every minute.

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