Duncan Sheik, the Tony-winning composer of Broadway’s Spring Awakening and singer behind the 1996 hit “Barely Breathing,” has died in Manhattan, reports the New York Times. He was 56. According to Sheik’s mother, the cause of death was cardiac arrest. Earlier this week, the musician was reported to be in critical but stable condition following an unspecified health issue.
Duncan Scott Sheik was born on Nov. 18, 1969, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. His first single, the pop-rock track “Barely Breathing,” became a major hit for the young singer-songwriter, peaking at No. 16 on the Hot 100 and remaining on the chart for 55 weeks. The song later received a Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. After releasing two more studio albums, Sheik composed the musical Spring Awakening, which eventually netted him Best Original Score and Best Orchestrations at the Tony Awards, along with a Grammy for Best Musical Show Album. His most recent album, Claptrap, was released in 2022.