The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and Broadway composer passed away on Thursday night.
Duncan Sheik, the Tony Award-winning composer behind Spring Awakening and Grammy-nominated musician, has died at the age of 56. An Instagram post published Friday morning stated that Sheik passed away on Thursday night surrounded by love. Earlier in the week, a statement from his family noted that he was receiving medical care and was in critical but stable condition.
Born in Montclair, New Jersey, in 1969, Sheik gained national recognition with his 1996 self-titled debut album and hit single “Barely Breathing,” which reached No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. He later expanded his career into musical theater, collaborating with lyricist Steven Sater to compose the music for Spring Awakening. The 2006 Broadway show won eight Tony Awards in 2007, including best musical and best original score. Throughout his career, Sheik released multiple solo albums and composed for stage productions such as American Psycho, Because of Winn-Dixie, Alice by Heart, and The Secret Life of Bees.
