From 'The Jeffersons' To Yes With Sherman Hemsley

01/28/1999 4:00 AM, Yahoo! Music
Mac Randall

(1/28/99, 1 a.m. PST) - File this one in the "truth is stranger than fiction" category: Jon Anderson, best known as the helium-throated lead singer of pioneering '70s prog-rockers Yes, is working on a new album with the help of none other than Sherman Hemsley, best known as the curmudgeonly New York dry-cleaning entrepreneur George Jefferson on the '70s TV sitcom All In The Family and its subsequent spinoff show, The Jeffersons.

On this unlikely collaborative effort, titled Festival Of Dreams, the guy who used to sing "I'll be the roundabout" penned the lyrics, while the guy who was strongly associated with the words "I'm movin' on up to the East Side" wrote the tunes.

Many Jeffersons fans may be aware of Hemsley's musical abilities; some may even remember the hip-hop single he cut back in the '80s, "Ain't That A Kick In The Head." The big surprise here is that Hemsley and Anderson are apparently longtime buddies. Does Louise know about this? Weezie!

-- Mac Randall, New York

Got news tips, comments, or questions? Send them to newstips@mylaunch.com.