MINOR KEY

As an artist, close friend and neighbor of Charlie Minor, I wanted to go on record that he was one of the most sincere and caring people that I ever met--not only in the music industry, but in my life (“Death of a Salesman,” by Hugo Martin, Sept. 24).

As many were, I was devastated to hear the news of his death in March and recently dedicated my album “Carved in Stone” to Charlie because of our friendship. Yes, he was “flamboyant” . . . he was “extravagant” . . . but most of all he really cared about people and was just out to have a good time.

He made a point of not only having fun himself but made sure everyone around him was having fun as well. If there were more people like Charlie, the world would be a better place.

There’s really nothing wrong with trying to get the most out of life, and the bottom line is that Charlie is still “the life of the party” . . . just in a different place.

VINCE NEIL

Los Angeles

Neil is the former lead singer of Motley Crue.

Not to dispute that Charlie Minor was likable (he certainly seemed to be), but look at what we learned about him just on the first page of the article: angry neighbors, party all night, attractive woman on each arm, spurned lover, fast-paced, nonstop lifestyle, money, drugs and prostitutes, more drugs, drinking. Perhaps there are hundreds of people in this town who want to be just like Charlie Minor, but there are thousands of people, even millions, who find that lifestyle abhorrent. Here was a 47-year-old man, living values that an adolescent would have outgrown years ago.

Was he really trying to slow his hectic lifestyle? Why would he, with such rewards? And all in the interest of bringing us Janet Jackson and Bryan Adams? No thanks.

Hollywoodites grow indignant when they are on the receiving end of the words of Bob Dole, Pat Buchanan and others. A simple examination of the tragedy inherent in this story should tell them that the enemy may be within, and not without.

DAVID BALLARD

Arcadia