Duncan Sheik, 'Barely Breathing' singer and Spring Awakening composer, dies at 56

Duncan Sheik, the singer behind the 1996 single “Barely Breathing” and the composer of the stage musical Spring Awakening, has died at the age of 56.

He died on Thursday. His mother, Suzanne, confirmed his death to the New York Times, and the cause was given as organ failure, according to Rolling Stone.

Days before his death, Sheik had been hospitalised for an unspecified health issue. He was described at the time as being in critical but stable condition and receiving medical care. A day earlier, on 17 September, family members had said he was in critical condition in hospital.

“Barely Breathing” was Sheik’s breakthrough as a recording artist. Released in 1996, it reached Number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, the main US singles chart, and stayed on the charts for 55 consecutive weeks.

The single was certified gold, a marker of sales rather than a prize, and earned Sheik a Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. The Grammys are the US recording industry’s annual awards. He went on to release nine studio albums.

Sheik later moved into theatre writing. He composed the music for Spring Awakening, with lyrics and book by Steven Sater, based on the 19th-century German play about teenagers coming of age.

The show won Best Musical at the Tony Awards, the annual US theatre honours, in 2007. Sheik personally won two Tonys that night, for Best Original Score and Best Orchestrations. He later won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album for Spring Awakening.

No further details about funeral arrangements have been announced.