Family, faith, working hard and giving back: on one hand, she’s a woman navigating through life just like the rest of us, balancing her hustle and humanitarian endeavors while sharing personal ups and downs with the world at large. On the other hand, she’s not like anyone else…..because this particular woman is Sheila Escovedo, better known as Sheila E.

As a world-famous singer, songwriter, percussionist and performer, Sheila E. was practically born into the spotlight, her first stage performance accomplished at the ripe age of five as she drummed alongside her already-famous father, renowned musician Pete Escovedo: by the time most enroll in college, Sheila E. had already worked with heavy-hitters like George Duke, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie and Herbie Hancock. It was shortly after meeting Prince in 1978 that her solo stardom began to rise, from contributing background vocals on his classic 1984 Purple Rain smash, “Let’s Go Crazy” to her trademark solo hit, The Glamorous Life, during the same year.

In the midst of a national tour, recording her eighth solo album and due to perform at Gilley’s in Dallas tonight, the 58-year-old Cal. native discussed the importance of supporting performing arts in schools, inspiring the next generation of female performers and the loss of her musical soulmate and one-time fiance, Prince.

It’s hard to believe that you grew up learning from a professional musician and still struggled to be taken seriously. Do you face any similar challenges today?

“People still want to challenge me, and that’s okay because I love what I do. It’s been a blessing to play with my father, my brothers and other artists—-to still be in the game for this long, it’s about the love and the passion I have for this gift from God and I don’t take it for granted at all.”

Shortly after Prince passed away, I remember reading that songwriter Linda Perry actually called you ‘irrelevant’ when Billboard’s tribute to him was still in the planning stages. How was that even possible?

“I don’t have any comment on that and no ill will against her, but I’ve never gone away. I’ve always been out there doing what I need to do. Maybe sometimes people forget or don’t know about that.”

In your 2014 memoir, The Beat of My Own Drum, you mention how your mother, Juanita Gardere, always gave you confidence. Do you think she’s why you’ve been such a trailblazer in music?

“My mom never took the word ‘no for anything’—she and her sisters tried to push the envelope and compete with everyone about everything, and I got that side from her. And I tell anyone who wants to pursue a career, whether it be in music or otherwise, to make sure that you know you will hear the word ‘no’ and have to deal with rejection.You have to work for what you believe in. Everyone should should write a list of goals that they want to accomplish and look at it on paper: visualizing it makes you realize these things are possible. That’s how you accomplish them.”

Your first single, “Girl Meets Boy,” describes your relationship with Prince. Is it as hard to sing that song in your shows as it is to do perform in his memory?

“Every day it gets a little better, but it’s a process I have to go through—–I still can’t through the song without crying. We were friends for 38 years, so to lose someone who’s been a part of my life for that long, it’s been devastating. Sometimes it’s okay and other times where I break down, so its a process.”

You were recently honored in Atlanta with “Sheila E. Day” and have earned other accolades for Elevate Oakland and Elevate Hope, organizations you’ve helped to create to benefit disadvantaged children and underfunded arts programs. How important are those causes to you?

“It’s much appreciated anytime someone wants to honor things that I do. Other musicians besides myself are part of a larger movement,the cut backs in funds force schools to find the money elsewhere, and we also need to support great teachers and hire them to teach the classes. It makes such a difference: I do talk to fans who tell me that their daughters, sisters, even their mothers want to learn and study music. It’s never too late and I’m also a student of life…. everyday I try to learn something new.”