“The Queen Of Percussion,” Sheila E., keeps adding jewels to her crown, becoming the 2021 recipient of a Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award while continuing to cross longtime goals off an already unbelievable list.

The funky and soulful singer/songwriter’s latest single, “Bailar,” is her first to move in the salsa direction, she recently returned to acting on BET+’s “The Family Business” and even started “Sheila E. TV” on YouTube.

That of course all comes after racking up monumental musical smashes such as “The Glamorous Life” and “A Love Bizarre,” starring in the mega hip-hop movie “Krush Groove,” plus a collaborative career with everyone from her father/fellow renowned percussionist/former Santana band member Pete Escovedo to Prince and The Beatles’ Ringo Starr.

On her way to the City Winery for three shows spread between February 5-6, Sheila called Chicago Concert Reviews to touch on it all, along with her relentless work ethic since debuting on the “Purple Rain” Tour through today and how an unshakeable faith allowed her to navigate all the enormous fame that came.

What is this series of shows going to entail?

Sheila E.: We’re going to play Chicago with Sheila E & The E. Train. That’s my band where I play drums. My other band, I don’t play drums as much, so I get to play the entire show as the drummer, which is so much fun. We play a little bit of everything; Latin jazz, jazz, funk, R&B and gospel. We just have a great time and we still do a couple of the hits, except that I’m playing drums. We have bass, two keyboard players, guitar and a singer. We’re gonna have a blast.

What do you remember about any other instances you’ve played around Chicago?

E.: I’ve played Chicago so many times. One time I remember we had a birthday party for me at a club there and it was one of the most amazing birthdays. But every time I play there, the love I get from Chicago is incredible. The people come out, and man, it’s hard to even explain the love they give us when they come and see us perform…The food is always ridiculous. There are so many restaurants to go to, oh my goodness, that’s the problem I have. I can’t get enough! I can’t go to all the restaurants I want to go to in a short amount of time.

Musically speaking, what led you in the salsa direction as of late?

E.: The new single is called “Bailar,” with Luis Enrique and Tony Succar as producer. This was a song that was written originally with B. Slade and it’s a song that we did a long time ago as R&B, but we decided to flip it. [One of the things] on my bucket list was to do a salsa album. All of the years playing Latin jazz with my dad, and playing with other salsa artists, I’ve never done a salsa record before, so I decided it’s time. That’s the first single from this new, up-and-coming salsa album that I will do and I’m very excited about it. I grew up listening to salsa music as well and it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do.

How would you describe your YouTube show, “Sheila E. TV”?

E.: “Sheila E. TV” is a lot of fun. Recently, we’ve had some people coming here to my home. I turned my living room/game room into a TV set [laughs] and put up lights and everything so that it was very easy to have a television show right here in my living room. People would come over and then we started doing Zoom because it was safe. But it’s really about having conversations with my friends. I would just text them and say, “can you just be on my show please?” And they would come on the show and we’d talk about things. If we could play some music, we would. Then we started doing artist spotlights, which also features up-and-coming [artists] and most of that is just showcasing their talents. We’ve had great success with all of the artists that we’ve had. We’ve had activist Angela Davis. We’ve had singer Deborah Cox. We’ve had George Clinton, El DeBarge and Ringo Starr. There’s so many people, so you can go on YouTube right now and look at all the previous shows we’ve done so far.

You’re no stranger to acting as well, most recently, with “The Family Business.” What has that added to your incredible career?

E.: Stress [laughs]. No, I’m just kidding [laughs]. It’s a lot of fun, and again, another thing on my bucket list that I’ve wanted to do. I’ve never done television before. I’ve only done one movie and that was, you know, 150 years ago, so I wanted to get back into it. The opportunity presented itself and I did a couple of episodes and scenes in season three, so I’m excited about it. Now they’re starting to film season four and I hope to come back.

What went through your mind after hearing you and your father were simultaneously being given the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award?

E.: When we initially heard the news, I cried for about 20 minutes. I couldn’t believe it. I was just overwhelmed because I was just so happy for my dad. He deserves it and it was a long time coming, especially because it just came out of nowhere. We had no idea anyone was even discussing or talking about it. It was literally a complete surprise. We’re just humble and grateful to have our peers acknowledge us and our careers in this way. We’ve made history as the first ever father and daughter to receive this honor, as well as two people with the same name. We’re just so grateful and honored.

From your perspective, what are the major moments that led you to that point?

E.: A lot of times it’s not the major moments. It’s like boots on the ground. It’s the serving, giving, playing, asking, begging, “can I play? Can I sit in?” Listening, sitting down and learning by watching people play, playing with other people, being a part of a team and being a part of different genres of music. It’s not just one thing. It’s all of it, the learning process, the struggles, it’s everything.

What stands out to you from the “Purple Rain” and “The Glamorous Life” eras when you debuted as a solo artist?

E.: What stands out was my first-ever record was successful. It was the first time being a solo artist. When you ask for something, be careful what you ask for. I was so famous at the time. You kind of go, “wow, I wonder what it’s like?” and I realized that’s pretty scary. You can read books, you can watch other people go through it, but until you experience it, it’s something else. It was a lot of fun, but it was definitely a place in my life where I continued to work extremely hard, like the hardest I had ever worked in my life, to really do all the press, and interviews, and magazines and television shows. I mean we got no sleep. It was my band being in Europe before we even started the “Purple Rain” Tour and we really put the work in, but that’s what it takes. It’s totally different from what it is now and the industry has changed.

The momentum kept rolling with “A Love Bizarre,” which also had massive impact. Your take?

E: It was all in the same period, so it’s all a blur. We just kept going. I just kept moving. Being on tour, I had a recording studio on the bus. I never stopped. I just kept working and it wasn’t work to me because I love what I get to do. I wanted to do the next record before the other one was done, so I was prepared that the next record was ready to drop once we were done pushing the first record. So yeah, those things fall in place, but you gotta work hard to get it done…It’s a lot of work and you get out what you put in. I’m one that always gives 150 percent, so when I go, I go hard. The day to day sometimes is grueling and you’re tired, but at the same time, if you tell yourself this is what you want to do, you’ve made up your mind to do so, and whatever it takes to do that, you do it…

How about singing and starring in the movie “Krush Groove”?

E: I always wanted to be in a film. That opportunity came through right after the “Purple Rain” Tour and they were saying, “hey, we would love to have you.” Can you come to New York and we’ll do a little test run with [co-star] Blair Underwood?” I was very, very nervous because I have a problem remembering lines. I don’t remember my own lyrics even if I’ve written a song [laughs]. There’s something about lyrics that sometimes I just can’t connect, even though I’ve written them. They worked with us and I had a blast. It was so much fun to be able to be on set and to be a part of a film that now [is so highly regarded]. We didn’t realize how amazing it was until years later.

When you were seeking a break from your solo career, you of course wound up in Prince’s touring band. Did you feel like you were able to get that break or was it even busier?

E: You know, it’s a loaded question because I mean it was the first time I ever played drums. I wanted to play drums. I was musical director for that “Sign O’ The Times” Tour. I was in the studio with him the majority of the time, putting all that music together with the band, and helping, and taking part of my band with part of his band and creating a new band. I’m like, “let me do it. I’ll do it. No, I want to do it.” I created my own monster [laughs]. I just became, “let’s just go. Shoot, I got this. No worries, let me get this.” If you can do it, you can do it. Sometimes you don’t realize how much you really are doing. The team of people we had was amazing and the band was amazing, so we had a lot of fun.

What do you miss most about Prince, both as a musical collaborator and personally?

E: Just him. That involves just being him. That’s just what it is. Him.

Speaking of royalty, how did your ongoing role in Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band come about?

E: Wow, that was a long time ago as well. His management called and said, “we would like for Sheila to play with Ringo on his All Starr Band” and I’m like, “wow, okay, but am I playing percussion?” “No, you’re playing drums.” That wasn’t even on my bucket list, which was awesome, because I would never think in a million years that I would meet Ringo, let alone play in his band! It was so amazing and incredible. He’s just one of the best drummers and an incredible person. Just to sit, and watch, and listen to him tell stories and be a part of that [was wonderful]. I mean, I saw him on television when I was like 9-years-old. That is just how God just aligns things. It’s incredible.

What are your thoughts on all the numerous jazz and R&B greats you backed before?

E: I was able to play with a lot of people in my time before becoming a solo artist [George Duke, Herbie Hancock, Marvin Gaye] and even after [Phil Collins, Gloria Estefan, Cyndi Lauper]. The longevity of being able to play with different people, especially people you grow up listening to, is just such a blessing. You try to prepare for it, even being star struck, sitting there watching your idol and realizing you’re actually playing the music you grew up listening to. There’s no other feeling. It’s just incredible, again, how God lines things up being at the right place at the right time. Knowing someone who says, “hey, you know what, let’s get Sheila in the band.” It’s crazy!

How has your faith formed your foundation to be able to handle and maintain such an elite level throughout all these years?

E: It’s definitely number one in my book, number one like every single day, praying, thanking God for all the things that He does. He comes first and gets all the glory. It wasn’t always like that for me, but once I rededicated my life to God and just knowing I’m not in control of my life, He is, things were different. I saw things differently. I acted differently…I’m just grateful. I thank God every single day for the amazing life that He’s given me and the gift of music that He has given me.

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Sheila E. & The E-Train performs at City Winery on Saturday, February 5 and Sunday, February 6. For additional details, visit SheilaE.com and CityWinery.com/Chicago.