Sheila E.
Sheila Escovedo picked up the drumsticks and started making music at the precocious age of three. Sheila delivered her first solo performance to a live audience two years later and has since established herself as one of the most talented percussionist/drummers and performers in the world. Best known to music fans as Sheila E., she became a top session and touring musician before the age of 20, performing and/or recording with George Duke, Herbie Hancock, Billy Cobham, Con Funk Shun, Marvin Gaye (on his final world tour), Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, Gloria Estefan, Patti LaBelle, and Steve Nicks among others.
In the 1980’s, Sheila’s collaboration with the artist Prince helped to catapult her to her own pop superstardom. Her obvious talent and hits like, “The Glamorous Life” and “Love Bizarre,” in conjunction with her pivotal work on other Prince-related projects, contributed to her international stardom. Particularly proud moments during this period include her participation in the 1985 “We Are The World” session, Grammy, American Music Awards and MTV nominations, worldwide sold-out performances, and the memorable performance on The Oscars with virtuoso Placido Domingo,
In 1998 Sheila E. made history becoming television’s first female musical director for Magic Johnson’s “The Magic Hour.” Future television show engagements would include being a celebrity judge on Fox’s “The Next Great American Band” in 2007-2008, and being chosen as the winner of “Gone Country 3” in 2009, on CMT. In recognition of drumming and percussion, Sheila designed the “ClassE” Custom Series for adults, and the “Sheila E.’s Player Series,” for children, with renowned TOCA Percussions, distributed by Kaman Music.
Sheila E.’s producing, arranging, and performance talents have been showcased throughout the music and film industry with appearances on, The Academy Awards, The Latin Grammy Awards, BET Awards, The American Music Awards, The Kennedy Center Honors, The Summer Olympics, WOW Awards, ALMA’s, and The Image Awards just to name a few. In 2010 Sheila was nominated for an Emmy Award for “Outstanding Music Direction” in recognition for her leadership as musical director for President Obama’s Performance at The White House: Fiesta Latina. Her more recent projects, include The E Family “Now and Forever”, Pete Escovedo Live at Stern Grove Festival with her father Pete Escovedo, and brothers Juan and Peter Michael Escovedo, Sheila E. Live from Lugano Switzerland DVD, Silk Road from the group Heavenese hailing from Japan, a literary biography released by Simon & Schuster Publishing Titled “The Beat of My Own Drum”, ICON Sheila’s 2014 solo album and the single release Girl Meets Boy in memory of the late, great, Prince.
Sheila E. continues to produce and perform music throughout the world. Her current studio project and tour, “ICONIC”, is Sheila’s continued contribution to the music industry and her efforts in awareness to social issues and humanitarianism. Sheila E. is CEO of the entertainment company StilettoFlats Inc. located in Los Angeles California.
Yoshie Akiba
Born in Japan during World War II, Yoshie lost both her parents at the early age of five. Raised in an orphanage near a U.S. military base, as a girl she was exposed to music and dance through USO events organized to entertain the neighboring troops. At the age of 19, she caught the eye of a U.S. military officer who soon proposed.
Yoshie and her American serviceman husband moved to Baltimore, MD in the early 1960’s, where she studied Art and Dance at the prestigious Peabody Institute. She soon found she was unsuited for the role of conventional housewife, however. Inspired by the cultural revolution sweeping through the San Francisco Bay Area at the time, she packed two suitcases and headed west.
Returning to her passion, Yoshie continued her dance studies at UC Berkeley. But money was tight, and she longed for a taste of home. Borrowing $7,000 from friends and acquaintances, she and two partners – Kaz Kajimura and Hiroyuki Hori – opened the original Yoshi’s Japanese restaurant near the Cal campus in 1972. The tiny eatery thrived, and relocated from Berkeley to a larger space on Oakland’s Claremont Avenue in 1985. The more spacious location allowed Yoshi to incorporate her love of jazz. Open seven days a week, the new Yoshi’s served as a link to the golden age of jazz, bringing internationally-acclaimed musical acts to its stage. For Yoshi, the addition of live music advanced her search to find a “new way” in the “the new world.”
In 1997, Yoshi’s moved to its third site, a 330-seat club and adjoining restaurant in Jack London Square. A decade later, a second location was established in San Francisco’s historic Fillmore district. The Oakland venue continues successful operations as one of the world’s most highly-regarded jazz venues.
Yoshie is a practicing Buddhist whose self-proclaimed aspiration is to “keep up something beautiful and make people happy.” Today, she achieves this goal not only by maintaining the popular restaurant and jazz club that bears her name, but also through her steadfast support of Art and Music opportunities for Oakland youth. She is uniquely-qualified to appreciate that the value of music, dance, and the arts lies not only in the joy and hope that they inspire, but also in the life lessons that they provide. She hopes that the innovative music and arts programs Elevate Oakland supports will help to fill some of the gaps created by cuts to education funding, build students’ self-esteem and self-worth, and create positive outcomes by instilling the values of diligence, commitment, and hard work.
Lynn Mabry
Born in a musical family & raised in a Pentecostal church, singing was as natural as breathing. In 1975 while in High School, she auditioned for Latin artist Coke Escovedo at the suggestion of her boyfriend. Ironically was hired as one of his lead singers, she began performing weekends with Coke at the historic King Richards Nightclub in Jack London Square in Oakland CA., appeared on Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert, and opened for Earth Wind & Fire. The rest is musical history.
A few months later, seeing her professional potential, her cousin Sly Stone hired her to sing background vocals on his “Heard You Missed Me” album which was followed by a promotion tour opening for Parliament Funkadelic and Bootsy Collins. During the tour, George Clinton enlisted Lynn with the other back up singer for many of his production projects. By 1976, they were asked to join the band. They toured & recorded with the funk family for over 4 years. Through this, Clinton created and produced her first album as one of the original Brides Of Funkenstein, with their debut album “Funk or Walk” that topped Billboard’s Top 10 dance charts in 1978, and toured internationally.
In December of ’79, she became the proud mom of a baby girl, and chose to take a 2-year break from touring to care for and bond with her daughter. During that time, Lynn was continually being sought after and eventually returned to performing in 1981. Toured internationally with Rita Coolidge (’81), and immediately following became a member of the Talking Heads (’82-’84). Starred in their highly acclaimed hit feature film “Stop Making Sense” and video “Naive Melody”. Went on to appear in other motion pictures such as “Tape Heads” & “The Night Before”. As lead vocalist, Lynn joined the late George Michael’s “Faith” tour in 1988 & “Cover to Cover” tour in 1991. Toured with Don Henley for his “Dirty Laundry” tour. Featured vocalist for Bette Midler (’92-’94), and appeared in Midler’s HBO Special “Diva Las Vegas”. Also appeared on many variety & award shows including the 1986 Grammy’s with the Eurythmics. Lynn was featured and appeared in the Academy Award Winning Documentary feature film “20 Feet From Stardom” chronicling the history of backup singers.
Recorded, toured, and or appeared in videos with artist such as Elton John, Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart, Celine Dion, Eric Clapton, Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac, Don Henley, Ernie Isley, Namie Amuro, Ichiki Yazawa, Ruichi Sakamoto, Masayoshi Takanaka, Chris Isaac, Neil Shawn, and many more. She is currently on tour with her dear friend and business partner, world-renowned performing artist & entertainer Sheila E.
In 1995 she retired from touring and decided to venture into the music business by partnering with Sheila as Vice President and Executive Director of Heaven Productions Music. She began managing Sheila exclusively in 1996. In 2011 launched her management company White Rose Entertainment & Investment Group and adding to her management roster, took on all female group C.O.E.D., solo artist and songwriter Havis, Image Producer & Wardrobe Stylist Roni Burks, and composer and performing artist Justin Avery.
In 2014, she decided to step away from management to explore other opportunities. In addition to Lynn’s extensive music business involvement, she embraces her passion for children as a philanthropist. She co-founded the Elevate Hope Foundation, focusing on the needs of victims of child abuse, by promoting music and arts education as an alternative form of therapy, as well as Elevate Oakland, currently servicing the Oakland Unified School Districts. Music and the arts continue to be her main focus to assist in making a substantial difference in the world.
Jason Hofmann
An Oakland-based Entrepreneur, Jason Hofmann has lived many lives in his young career. A former collegiate Quarterback derailed by a serious shoulder injury, Jason’s path took a different turn at the age of 22. After completing his studies at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Jason embarked on a quest to discover what lays both within and ahead. Funded by substitute teaching, the development and sale of an advertising magazine, working as a Sports Editor and travel writer for a newspaper in Caracas, Venezuela, teaching English in Spain, serving as a Spanish teacher, Athletic Director, Coach and academic counselor in St. Thomas, USVI, Jason has lived, worked and traveled in over 100 countries.
After returning to the Bay Area in 2005, Jason capitalized on his background in management and economics to establish a successful independent financial planning practice. Committed to working for the underserved, he consistently sought out philanthropic activities where he could make an impact by hosting fundraisers for several charitable organizations on an annual basis. The venue for one of these fundraisers was the renowned Yoshi’s Jazz Club, yielding an unexpected and fortuitous introduction to club owner Yoshi Akiba. A friendship between like-minded spirits was born, and an eventual partnership followed – leading to the creation of the highly acclaimed nonprofit 51Oakland in 2011, which helped to ensure that public school students in Oakland have access to art and music education during the school day.
In 2013, Jason and Yoshi established a historic partnership with world renowned pop icon, Sheila E. and acclaimed vocalist, Lynn Mabry, to form “Elevate Oakland,” a partnership that finances and supports music and art programs in underserved Oakland public schools. The expanded team has now consolidated into one organization and is expanding their successful work in building substantial music and performing art programs in areas of high trauma through the help of the mentorship of popular resident artists and the creation of relevant curriculum aimed to engage students of today.
Through this work, Jason naturally began utilizing his background to assist artists in better business practices, coupled with sound financial management. In 2017, he worked with Pete Escovedo, to help produce his memoir “My Life in the Key of E.” and was Executive Producer of his last album, “Back to the Bay.” He continues to work with Mr. Escovedo, helping to arrange speaking engagements, shows and art showings.
In 2018, he opened a café in Kyoto, Japan with the family of renowned travel writer and novelist Pico Iyer.
Jason continues to expand his work both home and abroad, currently working on new projects in the Caribbean and Latin America. Based on the immediate success of Elevate Oakland, the co-founders are now in discussion to Elevate other cities.