Oakland's Ivy Hill neighborhood is striking a note of change, as the city pays homage to its musical roots by renaming a portion of East 21st Street to "Escovedo Way." The dedication celebrates the contributions of percussion legend Pete Escovedo and his daughter, Sheila E., the renowned '80s pop icon and Prince protégé. According to SFist, the street renaming ceremony took place on a block where music history is deeply entrenched, between Ninth and Tenth avenues, where Sheila E. spent her childhood years.
In a demonstration of the city's respect for its artistic alumni, Escovedo Way joins the ranks of other Oakland streets newly christened in honor of local music legends, such as "Tupac Shakur Way" and "Too Short Way." Sheila E., with a family legacy stretching back to jam sessions that included greats like Carlos Santana, has always held her Oakland upbringing close to her heart. "The memories of so many people performing here with us, like Carlos Santana. I mean the jam sessions that were here were amazing," she told KTVU. The Escovedos' recent honors also encompassed a Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award received in 2021.
Sheila E.'s legacy transcends her music career through philanthropic efforts, notably as a co-founder of Elevate Oakland, an organization that fosters music and arts education within local public schools. Meanwhile her father, Pete, who began his musical journey with The Escovedo Brothers Latin Jazz Sextet and later performed with Carlos Santana, instilled in her the importance of giving back to the community. "Our goal, and our promise to the community here in Oakland is to always give back to the community," Sheila E. expressed in a statement to KTVU.
The acknowledgment by the Oakland City Council for Hispanic Heritage Month, coupled with the street renaming, underscores the Escovedo family's deep connection to Oakland. Sheila E. recalled her humble beginnings and the values her parents instilled, "So my dad would put his instruments in the car and drive us to facilities where young kids were, and we would take the percussion instruments and just at least just try to put a smile on their faces," she reminisced. In the heartbeat of East 21st Street, now coined Escovedo Way, lies a testament to a familial rhythm that continues to pulse through Oakland's ever-evolving landscape.
