# Peter Michael Escovedo
**Peter Michael Escovedo III** (born 1961) is an American percussionist, producer, musical director, singer, songwriter, and television personality, best known as a two-time Emmy nominated producer and musical director and as a member of the Escovedo family of Latin jazz musicians. He is the son of percussionist Pete Escovedo and the brother of percussionists [Sheila E.](https://www.edgepedia.org/sheila-e) and Juan Escovedo and dancer Zina Escovedo.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1961, Alameda County, California; birth name Peter Michael Escovedo III[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0260442/bio/) |
| Family | Son of Pete Escovedo; brother of Sheila E., Juan Escovedo, and Zina Escovedo[2](https://www.innovativepercussion.com/artists/peter_michael_escovedo) |
| Professions | Percussionist, producer, musical director, singer, songwriter, television personality[2](https://www.innovativepercussion.com/artists/peter_michael_escovedo) |
| Emmy recognition | Two-time Emmy nominated producer and musical director[2](https://www.innovativepercussion.com/artists/peter_michael_escovedo) |
| Television | Music director for The Wayne Brady Show and The Martin Short Show[2](https://www.innovativepercussion.com/artists/peter_michael_escovedo) |
| Production work | Produced and arranged Pete Escovedo's *Rhythm of the Night* (2021) and produced *Back to the Bay* (2018)[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/pete-escovedo-mn0000840760) • [4](https://www.aarp.org/espanol/entretenimiento/musica-cultura/info-2018/pete-escovedo-sheila-e-padre-hija-en-la-musica-ernesto-lechner.html) |
| Solo albums | *Moments* (2003), *For Your Soul* (2023), *The Power of Love* (2025)[5](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/peter-michael-escovedo/6259862) |
## Family and musical background
Peter Michael Escovedo was born in [Alameda County, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/alameda-county-california), in 1961, and was named after his father, the percussionist Pete Escovedo, an original member of Santana.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0260442/bio/) • [2](https://www.innovativepercussion.com/artists/peter_michael_escovedo) He grew up immersed in the Bay Area music scene through a family in which nearly everyone performed: his father and his uncle Coke Escovedo played with Santana and co-founded the [Latin rock](https://www.edgepedia.org/latin-rock) band Azteca, and his siblings Sheila E., Juan, and Zina all entered music or dance professionally.[2](https://www.innovativepercussion.com/artists/peter_michael_escovedo) • [6](https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/escovedo-pete) Like his father, he became a percussionist.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0260442/bio/)
**The family band.** Peter Michael has appeared regularly in his father's ensembles. He played drums in the all-Escovedo percussion section of Pete Escovedo's band, alongside Sheila E. on congas and brother Juan on congas, on live albums including *Live!* (2003) and *Live from Stern Grove Festival* (2013).[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/pete-escovedo-mn0000840760) • [7](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jan-01-et-heckman1-story.html) He also joined the family group billing as the E Family on the album *Now and Forever* (2011).[8](https://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/blogcritics/article/Music-Review-The-E-Family-Now-and-Forever-2193886.php)
## Session and touring career
As a drummer and percussionist, Peter Michael has performed and recorded with a long list of pop and R&B artists, including [Mariah Carey](https://www.edgepedia.org/mariah-carey), Lionel Richie, George Michael, Earth Wind & Fire, Heart, Chaka Khan, Michael McDonald, Barry Manilow, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Nicks, Huey Lewis & The News, Kenny Loggins, The Four Tops, DeBarge, James Ingram, Patti LaBelle, and [Tina Turner](https://www.edgepedia.org/tina-turner).[2](https://www.innovativepercussion.com/artists/peter_michael_escovedo) The Remo artist profile notes that his [Marvin Gaye](https://www.edgepedia.org/marvin-gaye) work was on Gaye's last tour.[9](https://remo.com/profile/peter-michael-escovedo)
His studio credits as a sideman include percussion on Joyce Cooling's albums *Third Wish* (2001) and *This Girl* (2004), where he also contributed drum loops, background vocals, and additional vocal arrangement.[10](https://joycecooling.com/this-girl-credits) • [11](https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/third-wish-joyce-cooling/0073145498502)
## Production and television work
**Television.** Peter Michael served as music director for *The Wayne Brady Show* and *The Martin Short Show*, performing on those programs with guests including [Justin Timberlake](https://www.edgepedia.org/justin-timberlake), Mos Def, Jessica Simpson, and [Luther Vandross](https://www.edgepedia.org/luther-vandross).[2](https://www.innovativepercussion.com/artists/peter_michael_escovedo) He has also worked on shows including ABC's *High School Musical: Get in the Picture*, VH1's *But Can They Sing*, and Fuse's *Redemption Song*.[12](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/peter-michael-escovedo-35035.php) A City of Oakland resolution credits him with winning an Emmy for Best Sound as a producer and songwriter, and industry profiles describe him as a two-time Emmy nominee.[13](https://oakland.legistar.com/View.ashx?G=undefined&GUID=660E4E29-648F-4717-89A1-BC94E96B8333&ID=12495583&M=F) • [2](https://www.innovativepercussion.com/artists/peter_michael_escovedo)
**Record production.** As a music producer he has produced projects for artists including Bill Summers, Michael DeLorenzo, Joyce Cooling, Bernie Krause, Hype-C, the Pete Escovedo Orchestra, and his sister Sheila E.[2](https://www.innovativepercussion.com/artists/peter_michael_escovedo) He collaborated with Sheila E. on her 1991 album *Sex Cymbal*, her first record made without any involvement from Prince, on which he worked as arranger, composer, producer, programmer, and vocalist; its title track reached number 32 on the Billboard R&B chart.[14](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/sheila-e-p72993/biography) • [15](https://www.allmusic.com/album/sex-cymbal-mw0000690406) For his father, he produced *Back to the Bay* (2018) and produced and arranged *Rhythm of the Night* (2021), an album of nine vintage soul and R&B songs reworked for Pete's 14-piece Latin Jazz Orchestra, on which Peter Michael also sang lead on the [Stevie Wonder](https://www.edgepedia.org/stevie-wonder) song "Overjoyed."[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/pete-escovedo-mn0000840760) • [4](https://www.aarp.org/espanol/entretenimiento/musica-cultura/info-2018/pete-escovedo-sheila-e-padre-hija-en-la-musica-ernesto-lechner.html) • [16](https://www.foal.es/sites/default/files/Para%20Todos-137.pdf)
He later launched his own company, Peter Michael Productions, which creates and produces television and film projects, including children's shows airing on the network BabyFirst.[2](https://www.innovativepercussion.com/artists/peter_michael_escovedo)
## Solo recordings
Under his own name Peter Michael Escovedo has released the albums *Moments* (2003), *For Your Soul* (2023), and *The Power of Love* (2025), an eight-song set issued on November 7, 2025.[5](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/peter-michael-escovedo/6259862) He appears frequently as a featured guest on Bay Area Latin jazz recordings, including tracks with Ray Obiedo, Karl Perazzo, and David K. Mathews.[5](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/peter-michael-escovedo/6259862)
## Nicole Richie
Peter Michael Escovedo is widely reported to be the biological father of television personality [Nicole Richie](https://www.edgepedia.org/nicole-richie), who was adopted as a child by singer [Lionel Richie](https://www.edgepedia.org/lionel-richie) and his then-wife Brenda Harvey Richie; through this connection Sheila E. is described as Nicole Richie's biological aunt.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0260442/bio/) • [17](https://princevault.com/index.php/Sheila_E) A reunion between Peter Michael and Nicole Richie was staged on *The Wayne Brady Show* in 2002, though Nicole Richie has stated in interviews that Escovedo is not her birth father.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0260442/bio/)
## References
1. [Peter Michael Escovedo Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0260442/bio/)
2. [Peter Michael Escovedo, Innovative Percussion artist profile](https://www.innovativepercussion.com/artists/peter_michael_escovedo)
3. [Pete Escovedo Biography, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/pete-escovedo-mn0000840760)
4. [Pete Escovedo y Sheila E, padre e hija en la música, AARP en Español](https://www.aarp.org/espanol/entretenimiento/musica-cultura/info-2018/pete-escovedo-sheila-e-padre-hija-en-la-musica-ernesto-lechner.html)
5. [Peter Michael Escovedo, Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/peter-michael-escovedo/6259862)
6. [Escovedo, Pete, Encyclopedia.com (Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians)](https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/escovedo-pete)
7. [Standout Percussionist Walks a New Beat, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jan-01-et-heckman1-story.html)
8. [Music Review: The E Family - Now and Forever, Seattle Post-Intelligencer](https://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/blogcritics/article/Music-Review-The-E-Family-Now-and-Forever-2193886.php)
9. [Peter Michael Escovedo, Remo artist profile](https://remo.com/profile/peter-michael-escovedo)
10. [Joyce Cooling, This Girl credits](https://joycecooling.com/this-girl-credits)
11. [Joyce Cooling, Third Wish, Qobuz](https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/third-wish-joyce-cooling/0073145498502)
12. [Peter Michael Escovedo Biography, The Famous People](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/peter-michael-escovedo-35035.php)
13. [Oakland City Council resolution honoring the Escovedo Family](https://oakland.legistar.com/View.ashx?G=undefined&GUID=660E4E29-648F-4717-89A1-BC94E96B8333&ID=12495583&M=F)
14. [Sheila E. Biography, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/sheila-e-p72993/biography)
15. [Sheila E.: Sex Cymbal, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/album/sex-cymbal-mw0000690406)
16. [Pete Escovedo: Rhythm of the Night review, Para Todos](https://www.foal.es/sites/default/files/Para%20Todos-137.pdf)
17. [Sheila E., Prince Vault](https://princevault.com/index.php/Sheila_E)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license