Letters: Frankie Lymon & the Gloved One

MANY of Michael Jackson's most ardent fans believe he was most influenced by James Brown, Smokey Robinson, Fred Astaire and Diana Ross.

But the skills and direction he assimilated from them were merely the icing on an explosive cake. That recipe was given to Michael by the unbelievable Frankie Lymon.

The Lymon sound, energy and exuberant buoyancy were all incorporated by Michael, just as Lymon's group the Teenagers influenced the Jackson 5. What's more, two huge fans of Frankie Lymon were Berry Gordy and Quincy Jones.

Frankie lived a hard life. Not long enough to find his "Thriller" or live in a Neverland, but make no mistake, his work was the seed that grew into the King of Pop.

Len Barry

Philadelphia