The Beat of My Own Drum (38 page)

Two years old and cute as a button.

Looking pensive, age nine.

On East Twenty-first Street, Oakland, age thirteen.

Wearing my hair in braids for the George Duke show as a teenager.

Playing with Pops at the Greek in Berkeley, California.

Happy with Carlos Santana.

The group all together. Sheila E. & Con Funk Shun, 1977. ©
Connie Guzman

Michael Jackson, sister Zina, and me in Oakland, 1979, at an in-store signing of
Off the Wall.

The George Duke band backstage in Europe, 1977.
From left:
Josie James, George Duke, Sheila E., Lynn Davis.
© Terry Lott

Having a blast on Lionel Richie’s
Can’t Slow Down
tour.
From left:
Sheila E., George and Corine Duke, and Lionel Richie.

At the
Happy Together
album cover shoot, glamorous with Pops.
© Bruce W. Talamon

The Escovedo family all together.
From left:
Peter Michael, Sheila E., Pops, Moms, Juan, and Zina Escovedo.
© Jack White

Ray Charles, me, and the rest of the group at the “We Are the World” recording session, 1986.