Duncan Sheik, singer of ‘Barely Breathing’ and Broadway composer, dies at 56

Singer-songwriter and Broadway composer Duncan Sheik has died at the age of 56 following a cardiac arrest in New York. His mother, Suzanne Sheik, confirmed the news to The New York Times.

Sheik rose to prominence in the late 1990s with his hit single ‘Barely Breathing’ from his 1996 self-titled debut album. The track spent 55 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

Later in his career, Sheik transitioned into musical theatre, achieving significant success with the rock musical ‘Spring Awakening’. Collaborating with lyricist Steven Sater, Sheik won two Tony Awards for Best Original Score and Best Orchestrations, and the production also earned a Grammy for Best Musical Show Album. His other theatrical contributions include ‘American Psycho’ and ‘Alice by Heart’. His final studio album, ‘Claptrap’, was released in 2022.