Friend With Benefits

Michael Jackson’sconsigliere and alleged enforcer Frank Cascio may soon berewarded with a songwriting career--if he can manage to keep his mouth shut. Afrequent overnight guest at Neverland with his younger brotherVincent when they were in their teens, the 24-year-old Cascio,a.k.a. Frank Tyson, has already been well compensated for his loyalty to thedeposed King of Pop. As Fox411 columnist Roger Friedman previously reported, Jackson loaned Cascio’s father Dominic $600,000 to open Aldo’s Restaurant in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey. (We stopped in for a bite recently. Although the decor—particularly the photo shrine to the Gloved One—is noteworthy, the menu's no Thriller.) But in view of Cascio’s current status as an unindicted co-conspirator in Jackson’s child-molestation trial (for reportedly trying to silence the star witness), the cash-strapped moon walker may be looking for other ways to keep his old pal happy. A source tells us that radio legend Frankie Blue, a close confidante of Jackson and a former program director for New York’s WNEW, has been asking his contacts to hook Cascio up with a songwriting contract. Two music-industry managers who have met with Cascio concede that his songs are “pretty damn good.” Better than his testimony would be for Jackson’s defense, we presume. Jackson’s representatives did not return calls or e-mails, and neither Blue nor Cascio could be reached for comment.

Photos: NYDN