FOT Forum

The Best Show on WFMU => Dear Tom => Topic started by: franks. on January 06, 2012, 08:43:59 PM

Title: Sherman Helmsley Was a Prog Fan?
Post by: franks. on January 06, 2012, 08:43:59 PM

Back in the seventies, Sherman Helmsley was a big prog rock fan and, apparently, flew Daevid Allen (Soft Machine/Gong) to LA to hang out. Or something.

http://www.dangerousminds.net/comments/weezy_get_me_some_lsd_george_jefferson_is_a_big_prog_rock_fan (http://www.dangerousminds.net/comments/weezy_get_me_some_lsd_george_jefferson_is_a_big_prog_rock_fan)

I feel like it has to be made up. What does Vance think?

Title: Re: Sherman Helmsley Was a Prog Fan?
Post by: Shaggy 2 Grote on January 07, 2012, 09:30:03 AM

I think it's real.  I've heard it multiple times in multiple places, but it's not worth the effort for me to actually do any research.  Wasn't Helmsley also a jazz musician?  It makes a lot more sense then.  In the 70s, there was a lot of overlap (musically if not socially) between jazz musicians like Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock and prog.

Title: Re: Sherman Helmsley Was a Prog Fan?
Post by: Rick in Salt Lake on January 07, 2012, 10:23:12 AM

Let's ask the authority. Vance, what say ye?

Title: Re: Sherman Helmsley Was a Prog Fan?
Post by: bmills on January 07, 2012, 02:30:09 PM

(http://i41.tinypic.com/qx6nar.png)

Title: Re: Sherman Helmsley Was a Prog Fan?
Post by: Mr. Colin on January 07, 2012, 03:07:17 PM

Nektar - Show Me The Way - Jefferson (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKHY3pMEUJs#)

Title: Re: Sherman Helmsley Was a Prog Fan?
Post by: Eric Fishlegs on January 07, 2012, 11:48:34 PM

From Sherman's Wikipedia page-

Sherman Hemsley is a self-proclaimed fan of '70s progressive rock including bands Gentle Giant and Nektar. On his appearance on Dinah!, Hemsley performed a dance to the Gentle Giant song "Proclamation" from The Power and the Glory. After his dance, Shore was laughing and asked what kind of music that was. Sherman then proceeded to give a 5-minute speech on Gentle Giant.[3] Hemsley can also been seen wearing a Nektar T-shirt during his interview with Norman Lear when Lear hosted Saturday Night Live from Season 2 Episode 26. In 1999, he collaborated with Yes founder Jon Anderson on an album titled Festival of Dreams which was not released

Title: Re: Sherman Helmsley Was a Prog Fan?
Post by: Hugman 3.0 on January 08, 2012, 04:38:42 PM

Mr. Helmsley is one of my all time favorites.  He had a hilarious appearance on Conan in the early oughts that is burned in my memory where he showed Conan how to do The Slop and told a dirty Little Rascals joke.