The influences on Michael Jackson ’s artistry have become a renewed talking point in the wake of the release of Michael , the Antoine Fuqua -directed biopic depicting the period between the King of Pop’s Jackson 5 rise and his Bad -focused tour in the late ‘80s. Among such influences, of course, is Bob Fosse, the late choreographer and dancer whose 1974 film The Little Prince proved hugely impactful on MJ’s work. A clip from the film has gone viral in recent days, spurring a larger conversation about not only MJ’s own influences and references, but also those of his biggest inspirations. Often lost in such conversations is the profound debt owed to Black originators like Cab Calloway, an undeniably powerful influence on Jackson and Fosse both, with his influence also apparent in the work of James Brown and other stars. Below, we take a closer look at the Fosse clip currently making the rounds, all while touching on the larger story behind the influences MJ pulled from in his own work.…