Duncan Sheik, composer of Spring Awakening, dies at 56

Duncan Sheik, the singer of “Barely Breathing” and composer of the musical “Spring Awakening,” has died at the age of 56. His family confirmed his passing, which occurred on Thursday, September 17, in Manhattan.

The musician died in the hospital, one day after his team announced that he was in a critical but stable condition. His mother, Suzanne Sheik, stated that her son succumbed to heart failure that led to cardiac arrest, according to the Guardian. Entertainment Weekly also reported organ failure, citing the family.

Born on November 18, 1969, Duncan Sheik rose to prominence in 1996 with “Barely Breathing,” a track from his debut album. The song spent 55 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned him a Grammy Award nomination.

His career took a significant turn on Broadway. Alongside playwright Steven Sater, he composed “Spring Awakening,” a rock adaptation of Frank Wedekind’s play. Premiering on Broadway in 2006, the show won eight Tony Awards. Duncan Sheik received accolades for Best Original Score and Best Orchestrations, and later won a Grammy for the cast album.

He also composed for “American Psycho” and “Alice by Heart,” while continuing his career as a singer-songwriter. His latest album, “Claptrap,” was released in 2022.

Duncan Sheik is survived by his wife, Nora Ariffin, and their daughter, Ines. In a statement to People, his representatives requested that the family’s privacy be respected.