Bronx, NY–In honor of celebrating 45 years of purely renowned star-studded performances, the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts was in full swing Saturday night welcoming generations of music lovers to its second production of their fall season line-up. This evening’s tribute paid homage to the women of 80s/90s R&B/funk era who paved the way for multi-talented female artists to rock the music industry.
Opening the empowering event was sultry R&B/Pop group Klymaxx featuring founding member and producer Bernadette Cooper. This dynamic set of ladies slayed their collaborative string of classic jams from “Meeting In The Ladies Room”, “The Men All Pause”, to timeless ballads “I Miss You”, and “I’d Still Say Yes” swaying a melodic vibe that engaged the audience in every note. Best known as the first ever all-female band, their unique blend of pop, sass, and sentiment branded their style giving them the edge that instrumentally cemented their powerful contribution to music culture.
Following the class act was the show stopping headliner, the ever-talented Sheila E. The percussion virtuoso is not only known as a solo artist but a musical force to be reckoned with whose resume includes collaborations with the likes of George Duke, Herbie Hancock, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Lionel Richie, Ringo Starr, Gloria Estefan, Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, and maestro innovator the late Prince.
Bonded by her Hispanic heritage and musical roots, Sheila Cecilia Escovedo shares recognition of ties to New York City and the Bronx by way of generational connections through her godfather, Latin music pioneer Tito Puente, her father Pete Escovedo along with her musician uncles Javier Escovedo founder of punk rock band The Zeros, Alejandro Escovedo founder of rock band The Nuns, Mario Escovedo front man/guitarist of rock band The Dragons, and the late Coke Escovedo member of Latin-American rock bands Santana and Azteca.
Sheila E. unleashed her arsenal of hits including “A Love Bizarre”, remake of the great “Reyna De La Salsa” Celia Cruz’s “Bemba Colorá” which earned her a 2025 Grammy Award off her first ever salsa album Bailar along with everlasting fan favorites of her adorned partner Prince ending her outstanding set to a spectacular performance of “The Glamorous Life” that left the crowd in awe.
Sheila E. still remains a significant figure of music’s iconic culture linking classic funk and pop with contemporary Latin and global sounds while the inclusion of Klymaxx foregrounds women’s contributions to R&B/Pop genres each complementing their own leadership and performance styles. This showcase was indeed an exemplified tribute to the influence of artistry and legacy of women in the 80s/90s R&B/funk era.
For a full list of Lehman Center of Performing Arts upcoming events, visit: www.lehmancenter.org
