Obamas Honour 'Trailblazer' Frankie Knuckles

President Barack Obama and his wife have paid tribute to the late DJ Frankie Knuckles, calling him a trailblazer.

The 'Godfather of House Music' died last month, aged 59.

In a letter written on White House stationery addressed to Knuckles' family and friends, the President and First Lady said his work helped open minds and bring people together.

Hailing from the same hometown as the Grammy-winning DJ, they said his legacy lived on in Chicago and across the world.

"Frankie's music helped open minds and bring people together, blending genres to capture our attention and ignite our imaginations.

"He was a trailblazer in his field, and his legacy lives on in the city of Chicago and on the dance floors across the globe," the letter said.

Both Obamas signed the letter, which was posted on his friend DJ David Morales' Facebook page.

They said that Knuckles would be dearly missed but that his spirit would remain a guiding force.

Knuckles' most well-known track was Your Love, released in 1987, which was later used as the basis of the Source's hit You've Got The Love.

He was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame in 2005.

The cause of his death has not yet been revealed.