Sheila Earley

 

Sheila Earley, drummer and percussionist, was born in New Richmond, Wisc.,and began playing drums at the age of 8. Her older brother and sisters taught her the basic rudiments and drum set beats. She studied with Ron Keezer (UW-Eau Claire) in high school and received a four-year scholarship in music to the University of Arizona.

 

Sheila continued on in her musical studies and moved to Los Angeles, studying with jazz great Jeff Hamilton and famed drummer/world percussionist Alex Acuna. In New York City she studied with funk master Bernard Purdie and technique master Joe Morello.

 

Sheila has performed in 48 states and 5 countries in many varying musical settings. Some of her highlights include:

 

Playing drums and acting in the film “SUGAR!” 

Teaser for the film is viewable at this link: http://vimeo.com/112810633

 

House Drummer – Flamingo Hilton Lounge in Las Vegas, Nev.

Tom Harrell Quintet – Bop Stop in Cleveland, Ohio

Marlena Shaw – Blue Note in New York, N.Y.

Carole Sloane – Blue Note, Village Vanguard, Dizzy’s Coca-Cola Club in New York, N.Y.; Skullers in Boston, Mass.; Portsmouth Jazz Festival in Portsmouth, N.H.

Duke Ellington Legacy Band – Various jazz festivals in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida

House Drummer – Mall of America Ford Theatre, in Minneapolis, Minn.

Norman Simmons Quintet – Venues in New York, New Jersey, and Arizona

Virginia Mayhew Quartet – New York, N.Y.

Glenn Campbell – Phoenix, Ariz.

Debbie Duncan – Venues in Minnesota and Wisconsin

Tony Sandler and Columbia Artist Tours – 48 states in the U.S. and on the QEII cruise ship in the Caribbean

Bobby Shew and Reuel Lubag – Washington

Mike Scott Funk Band (Justin Timberlake Guitarist) – Minnesota

New York Pops Organization – New York, N.Y.

Carl Thompson and Friends – Brooklyn, N.Y.

Shoko Amano & Paul Bollenbeck – Blue Note in New York, N.Y.

Company, A Beautiful Thing - Theatre Late Da in Minneapolis/St.Paul, Minn.

Christy Sperling & John Garden – Wisconsin

Sean Primes (rap artist)- Wisconsin

Jody and Matt Mealey – Wisconsin

HAIR on Broadway – New York, N.Y.

Dixieland Express Future Expo – 12-city tour in Japan

Sheila Earley Quartet – The Nash in Phoenix, Ariz.

Clay Aiken – New York, N.Y.

Independent – Adaire Jazz Festival in Ireland

Tony and Tina’s Wedding, Beehive – Hey City Theatre in Minneapolis, Minn.