Spring Awakening composer Duncan Sheik has died. He was 56.
The singer-songwriter died Thursday in Manhattan of organ failure, The New York Times reported Friday after confirming his death with Sheik’s mother, Suzanne Sheik.
Sheik’s verified Instagram account on Friday also said: “The world has a lost a singular talent, and deeply influential voice in music and theater. From his Grammy-nominated hit ‘Barely Breathing’ to his groundbreaking, Tony- and Grammy Award-winning work on Spring Awakening, Duncan’s artistry touched many and leaves an indelible mark on the cultural landscape.”
His family in an Instagram post on Wednesday reported he was hospitalized in “critical but stable condition.”
Born on Nov. 18, 1969, in Montclair, New Jersey, Sheik during his youth split his time between his parents’ home in South Carolina and his grandparents’ in New Jersey. His grandmother, a graduate of The Juilliard School, taught him to play the piano and supported his musical development. He graduated from Phillips Academy in 1988 before going to Brown University.
Sheik is perhaps best known for his 1996 debut song, “Barely Breathing,” which led to a Grammy nomination for best male pop vocal performance. He released nine studio albums, including his self-titled debut, Duncan Sheik, in June 1996.
He wrote the music for Spring Awakening, with Steven Sater providing lyrics for the musical that premiered on Broadway in 2006 and starred Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff.
Sater in an Instagram post on Friday wrote: “Now he’ll walk on my arm through the distant night and I won’t let him stray from my heart… Beloved Duncan. #notgone”
The Broadway production won Tonys for best orchestration, best original score and best musical and a Grammy for best musical theater album. The alt-rock and folk musical is based on the 1891 German play by Frank Wedekind, which sees teenagers in the late 1800s discovering their sexuality. A 2022 documentary features the original cast reuniting for a concert.
A revival of the musical, directed by Danya Taymor, is planned for off-Broadway this fall at Studio Seaview, with previews set to start Nov. 27 and an official opening set for Dec. 17.
The Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen production in an Instagram post on Friday said: “We are heartbroken by the passing of Duncan Sheik. Our love is with his family, his friends, his collaborators and the countless people touched by his life and music. Duncan’s music is at the heart of Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen, and his extraordinary artistry, generosity and spirit have left an indelible mark on all of us who had the privilege of knowing and working with him.”
And The Spring Awakening Musical in its own Instagram post added: “Duncan Sheik gave us more than music: he captured the ache, hope, confusion, rebellion, and the beauty of growing up. We are indebted to his once-in-a-generation artistry, collaborative spirit, and friendship, and we are honored to be among the countless communities touched by his life and work. Duncan, we love you. Thank you.”