The Detroit-born, Manhattan raised singer began playing both piano and guitar while still quite young. By the mid 1970s he became part of the band Heavy Impact. But it was nearly a decade later that Abrams really made a name for himself with the big hit "Music Is the Answer." It began a string of dance hits that capitalized on the electronic sounds that were popular in the mid 80s, and included “The Truth,” “Over and Over,” “I’m Not Gonna Let You,” and his biggest song, the dancelicious international hit, “Trapped.”

(November 26, 2016) We are sad to inform SoulTrackers of the death, at age 67, of 80s soul and house star and “Trapped” singer Colonel Abrams . It was nearly a year ago that we reported that Abrams was suffering badly from diabetes and was financially strapped by the illness.

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(November 26, 2016) We are sad to inform SoulTrackers of the death, at age 67, of 80s soul and house star and “Trapped” singer Colonel Abrams. It was nearly a year ago that we reported that Abrams was suffering badly from diabetes and was financially strapped by the illness.

The Detroit-born, Manhattan raised singer began playing both piano and guitar while still quite young. By the mid 1970s he became part of the band Heavy Impact. But it was nearly a decade later that Abrams really made a name for himself with the big hit "Music Is the Answer." It began a string of dance hits that capitalized on the electronic sounds that were popular in the mid 80s, and included “The Truth,” “Over and Over,” “I’m Not Gonna Let You,” and his biggest song, the dancelicious international hit, “Trapped.”

Abrams continued to chart on the Dance and R&B charts into the mid-90s, and performed around the world into the new century. He also formed his own Colonel Records and released music sporadically through the early part of this decade.

Tragically, by 2015, Abrams was quite ill and homeless, and his friends began a crowdfunding campaign to help him pay for his medical treatments. The final year of Abrams’ life was difficult, but didn’t mask the bright spot he was for R&B and house music fans during the last two decades of the 20th Century. He will be missed.

By Chris Rizik