Sherman Helmsley Was a Prog Fan?

[franks.]

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

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

[Shaggy 2 Grote]

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.

[Rick in Salt Lake]

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

[bmills]

[Mr. Colin]

Nektar - Show Me The Way - Jefferson

[Eric Fishlegs]

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

[Hugman 3.0]

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.