Colonel Abrams

Born in Detroit, the singer known professionally as Colonel Abrams, whose birth name it truly was, achieved moderate success toward the end of the 1980s by delivering soul vocals in a sharp, clipped manner that meshed with both garage and house backdrops. In the late 1960s he performed with his brother Morris in the ensemble Conservative Manor, then took the lead vocal role for 94 East in 1976, a lineup that featured Prince handling guitar duties. He subsequently became a member of Surprise Package, the New Jersey-based outfit. A modest hit arrived in 1984 via the ballad “Leave the Message Behind the Door,” issued on New York’s Streetwise Records. Its successor, “Music Is the Answer,” registered as an international dance success and secured him a contract with MCA in 1985. Additional traction came from the late-’80s singles “Trapped,” “I’m Not Gonna Let You,” and “How Soon We Forget,” alongside a pair of full-length albums. In 1990 the independent Horrus label released his single “Bad Timing,” produced by Cameo’s Larry Blackmon.