The 64-year-old half-Mexican American percussionist and singer will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023.
Sheila E began her career in the mid-1970s as a percussionist and singer for The George Duke Band. After leaving the group in 1983, she began a successful solo career, starting with her critically acclaimed debut album, which included the career-defining song, “The Glamorous Life“.
Commonly referred to as The Queen of Percussion, she became a mainstream solo star in 1985 following the success of the singles “The Belle of St. Mark“, “Sister Fate“, and “A Love Bizarre” with the last becoming one of her signature songs. She is.
Prince joined forces during the Purple Rain recording sessions. She provided vocals on the B-side to “Let’s Go Crazy“, “Erotic City” in 1984. Though taken under Prince’s wing, she proved to be a successful artist in her own right.
But Sheila E isn’t the only Latinx artist getting their star…
Marc Anthony, the late Jenni Rivera, Kirstin Maldonado and her fellow Pentatonix members.
The honorees are chosen by the Walk of Fame selection panel of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Ellen K, chair of the selection panel and a top radio personality, announced the new honorees on www.walkoffame.com.
Sheila E will be spending some Times in a theater near you…
Alamo Drafthouse is teaming up with distributor FilmRise to bring back to the big screen Prince’s concert film Sign O’ The Times, featuring the 64-year-old half-Mexican American percussionist, singer, author, and actress, for its 35th anniversary.
The new 4K presentation will run at 24 locations in New York, LA and nationwide starting April 1.
“Sign O’ The Times is, without a doubt, one of Prince’s greatest achievements as an artist,” says Alamo Drafthouse film programmer Jake Isgar. “We’re thrilled at the opportunity to be a part of preserving and presenting his musical legacy.”
The film captures the late singer songwriter at the height of his most prolific period, following the platinum-selling double album of the same name.
The screening is part of Austin-based Alamo Drafthouse’s ‘Play It Loud’ limited series, running through March and into April with classic rock/pop performance films including Josie and the Pussycats,A Hard Day’s Night, and Led Zeppelin’s The Song Remains the Same.
Price died in 2016 at age 57 of an accidental fentanyl overdose at his Paisley Park studio and home in Minnesota.
Sign o’ the Times, released in 1987, was Prince’s ninth studio album. Singles included “Sign o’ the Times” and “If I Was Your Girlfriend.” While not as commercially successful as 1984 blockbuster Puple Rain, it was considered by some his best. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2017.
One of Patricia Cardoso’s most iconic films is being celebrated in a special way…
The Library of Congress has unveiled its annual selection of 25 films added to the National Film Registry, with the Colombian filmmaker’s Humanitas Prize-winning film Real Women Have Curves—a landmark of Latinx cinema—among the chosen.
Real Women Have Curves is one of an unprecedented seven titles directed by women, the most in a single year since the inaugural registry in 1989.
The comedy-drama—released in 2002—starred America Ferrera, Lupe Ontiveros and George Lopez. It’s the story of a first generation Mexican-American girl (Ferrera) and her passage to womanhood. Although she wants to go away to college, she must battle against the views of her parents, who think she should stay at home and provide for the family. As a compromise, she works with her mother (Ontiveros) in a sewing factory over the summer and learns some important lessons about life, helping her make a decision about her future.
It’s based on the play of the same name by Josefina López, who co-authored the screenplay for the film with George LaVoo. The film gained fame after winning the Audience Award for best dramatic film, and the Special Jury Prizefor acting at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. According to the Sundance Institute, the film gives a voice to young women who are struggling to love themselves and find respect in the United States.
But it’s not the only LatinX film selected this year…
Zoot Suit, directed by Luis Valdez, made the list.
Starring Daniel Valdez and Edward James Olmos, Zoot Suitis the1981 film adaptation of the Broadway play of the same name. It weaves a story involving the real-life events of the Sleepy Lagoon murder trial — when a group of young Mexican-Americans were charged with murder — resulting in the racially fueled Zoot Suit Riotsthroughout Los Angeles.
The film was nominated for the 1982 Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
Meanwhile, some of the selected films feature Hispanic artists…
Purple Rainstars Mexican American actress/singer Apollonia Kotero; and Platoonstars part-Spanish American actor Charlie Sheen,
Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced the annual selections, which were chosen based on cultural, historic and aesthetic importance to the nation’s film heritage and guarantees the film will be preserved under the National Film Preservation Act. The films must be at least 10 years old.
“The National Film Registry has become an important record of American history, culture and creativity,” said Hayden. “Unlike many other honors, the registry is not restricted to a time, place or genre. It encompasses 130 years of the full American cinematic experience — a virtual Olympiad of motion pictures. With the support of Congress, the studios and other archives, we are ensuring that the nation’s cinematic history will be around for generations to come.”
The 2019 selection brings the number of films in the registry to 775 and spans a century of filmmaking, from 1903 to 2003.
Jacqueline Stewart, chair of the National Film Preservation Board’s task force on diversity, equity and inclusion, commented, “With this year’s National Film Registry selections, Dr, Hayden recognizes the importance of amplifying cinematic voices and stories that have been marginalized for far too long. I look forward to continuing research and dialogue with the Librarian, board members, film communities and the American public to ensure that the registry reflects the full spectrum of our society.”
Here’s the full list of this year’s selections:
Amadeus (1984) Becky Sharp (1935) Before Stonewall (1984) BodyAnd Soul (1925) Boys Don’t Cry (1999) Clerks (1994) Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980) Emigrants Landing At Ellis Island (1903) Employees Entrance (1933) Fog Of War (2003) Gaslight (1944) George Washington Carver At Tuskegee Institute (1937) Girlfriends (1978) I Am Somebody (1970) The Last Waltz (1978) My Name Is Oona (1969) A New Leaf (1971) Old Yeller (1957) The Phenix City Story (1955) Platoon (1986) Purple Rain (1984) Real Women Have Curves (2002) She’s Gotta Have It (1986) Sleeping Beauty (1959) Zoot Suit (1981)
The 57-year-old Mexican American actress, singer, former model and talent manager made her first public appearance since the passing of Prince on Monday night at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
The occasion? Purple Rain: Celebration, a panel discussion/screening presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (AMPAS) in Beverly Hills, Calif.
The evening’s surprise guest was joined by fellow cast members Jerome Benton and Jill Jones as well as the film’s writer/director Albert Magnoli, producer Robert Cavallo and costume designer Marie France.
Clips from the 57th Academy Awards — when Prince won the Oscar for original song score for Purple Rain — opened the evening.
Then noting that “not just a memory was being celebrated but also a milestone,” AMPAS president Cheryl Boone Isaacs announced that the brand new 35mm optical stereo print being shown would be added to the Academy’s permanent collection. Also setting the tone: an array of brilliant portraits of Prince displayed in the outer lobby, taken over the years by his personal photographer Afshin Shahidi.
Writer/director Reginald Hudlin, who produced the 88th Academy Awards this year, and Grammy-winning composer/bass guitarist Marcus Miller, moderated the ensuing 90-minute conversation.
Swapping stories about everything from the film’s early beginnings to the 90 still unreleased songs out of the 100 Prince had for the soundtrack to the absurd suggestion that John Travolta portray Prince, the panelists drew plenty of ooh’s and raucous laughter:
“I was the last person they saw for the audition [to find the Vanity replacement]. [Actress] Nia Peeples had just walked out of the room. I walked in and they asked me to take my shoes off. I thought wow, they’re into feet. Later I learned they were flying me to Minneapolis to meet Prince, who takes me out for a ride in a purple limo. He was very reserved and shy. I’m like Chatty Cathy. The next day we do an audition at First Avenue. I wore black spandex and a metal mesh blouse. Later there’s a knock at my hotel door and it’s Chick [Charles ‘Big Chick’ Huntsberry] from his security team: “The kid likes you. Play it cool,” said Apollonia.
“Prince called me and sang several pieces of [‘When Doves Cry’] into my answering machine and said not to erase it. When he came to my apartment, he headed straight to my machine. I still have that tape,” she added.
Sheila E began her career in the mid-1970s as a percussionist and singer for The George Duke Band. After leaving the group in 1983, she began a successful solo career, starting with her critically acclaimed debut album, which included the career-defining song, “The Glamorous Life“.
