‘Let's Go Crazy: A Grammy Salute To Prince’: Sheila E's epic stage slide at 62 is why she's the ‘King of Drums’
'Let’s Go Crazy: A Grammy Salute To Prince' began with two Grammy-winning artists performing one of the most iconic Prince and The Revolution songs. It had H.E.R. and Gary Clark Jr., featuring Sheila E on drums.
While she received no introduction or name card, it made fans wonder why she was treated like 'the backing band'. Seemed like the slight did not deter the percussionist and singer in the least as she soon took over the stage with a string of electrifying performances and her drumming talent.
Music lovers were stunned to see her. "In my mind, there's a whole back story to that stage slide Sheila E. just did, where her kids said, "Mom...please don't do the stage slide." And Sheila E. said, "Oh...I'm totally doing the stage slide now." #Prince #LetsGoCrazy," one said and another wrote, "I’ve never seen ANYONE play the drums like Sheila E. and I’ve seen her perform in person. That’s the King of Drums and Percussion."
"Sheila E drummed her earring off!" one said and another posted, "That doggone Sheila E!!!!!!! Still love her! She’s still so damn dope!" Another said, "Sheila E...first woman I remember jammin on the drums..she still got it."
Stupefied by her act, one fan posted, "When 62 yr old Shelia E slides across the stage & gets up without using her hands!! #GRAMMYSalutePrince." Another said, "#Prince #princetribute did Sheila E just slide into home plate at 60 years old?"
One eagle-eyed fan posted, "Watching the Prince Grammy tribute right now and a nice, notable thing is the darkened China symbol up behind Sheila E’s drum set (during “The Cross”) - no doubt in tribute to the late John Blackwell." Another called her badass and tweeted, "My dad was a drummer so I was in awe of Sheila E as a kid and she’s still a badass!"
"The L E G E N D A R Y @SheilaEdrummer singing #Prince’S America fused with his brilliant “Free” is what the world needs now. In complete awe. Then - boom: Glamorous Life. This is perfection. #Prince4Ever #SheilaE," one tweet read and another said, "Can we shout out Sheila E for a minute. She's done everything on this Grammy Salute to Prince, sing, backup sing, played the fire out the drums."
One fan posted about Gary Clark Jr's performance alongside Sheila's. "Between Gary Clark Jr tearing up the guitar and Sheila E wailing on the drums, the musicianship on the stage is outrageous," one tweet read and another said, "Holy moly. Gary Clark jr doing The Cross ?!? this is how guys like me find Jesus!!!" One said, "Gary Clark Jr. embodies Prince so well. He’s talented, edgy, soft, savage and soulful. Could listen to him cover anything from the Prince vault."
Talking about Common's performance, one fan wrote, "Yessss!! Come on Common and Sheila E!!!" and another said, "Pretty dope that the #hiphop God Common was the only rapper in the entire tribute."
Hosted by actress and comedian Maya Rudolph, the feature aired 8 pm CT / 9 pm ET on April 21, 2020, which marks the fourth anniversary of Prince's death.