Colonel Abrams dead: How the American artist helped bring house music into the mainstream

Abrams scored a minor hit in '84 with 'Leave The Message Behind The Door', but his track 'Music Is The Answer' was his first international dance hit

Colonel Abrams performs in the music video for 'Trapped' (YouTube)

Colonel Abrams has been confirmed dead aged 67.

The pioneering American house musician helped to bring the genre into the mainstream in the 1980s.

Best known for his hit 'Trapped', which made it to number three on the UK singles chart in 1985, Abrams was homeless at the time of his death in New York.

DJ Tony 'Tune' Herbert - a friend of Abrams - announced his death via Facebook on Friday, who said he was now "at peace".

"Our condolences go out to his family and fans world wide. He is no longer suffering or Trapped," he wrote.

Listen to 'Trapped' and watch the video below, you'll probably recognise it - it was also used as a loop in Marradonna's '94 club single 'Out Of My Head':

Along with the likes of D-Train, Kashif and Larry Levan, Abrams had a positive influence on boosting house music into the mainstream with his spacious synth-based sound and heavy boogie and disco influences.

Abrams scored a minor hit in '84 with 'Leave The Message Behind The Door', but his track 'Music Is The Answer' was his first international dance hit, and earned him a record deal with MCA.

This led to chart hits 'Trapped' and 'I'm Not Going To Let You' - Abrams went onto feature on US dance and R&B charts throughout the mid-90s, performing around the world.

In 2007 he released his single 'Just When You Thought' via his own record label, Colonel Records, which followed 'Heartbreaker' and 'Let Us All Be Friends'.