Tony- and Grammy-winning 'Spring Awakening' composer Duncan Sheik dies aged 56
Singer-songwriter and Broadway composer Duncan Sheik has died aged 56. His mother Suzanne Sheik told The New York Times he died of organ failure on Thursday 17 September at a Manhattan hospital.
Duncan Sheik, the Tony- and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter behind ‘Barely Breathing’ and the Broadway musical Spring Awakening, has died aged 56. He died on Thursday 17 September at a Manhattan hospital; his mother, Suzanne Sheik, told CNN he died of organ failure.
His death was confirmed in a statement shared on his Instagram account on Friday. “It is with profound sadness that we confirm the passing of Duncan Sheik,” it began, describing the musician as a “singular talent” and “deeply influential voice in music and theater”, adding that he “passed away last night surrounded by love”. USA Today reports he is survived by his wife, Nora Ariffin, and their seven-year-old daughter, Ines.
Sheik’s 1996 breakout single ‘Barely Breathing’ spent 55 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 16, and earned him a Grammy nomination for best male pop vocal performance. But his defining work came on Broadway: with lyricist Steven Sater he wrote the score for 2006’s Spring Awakening, which ran for more than 860 performances, won eight Tony Awards including best musical, and took the Grammy for best musical show album. Sheik personally won Tonys for best original score and best orchestrations.
He later scored the musicals American Psycho, Alice in Wonderland and Whisper House; his most recent album was 2022’s Claptrap.
Sources
- CNN: Duncan Sheik death — cnn.com
- USA Today: Duncan Sheik dead — cause of death — usatoday.com
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