Duncan Sheik dies at 56 — Channel NewsAsia
Singapore-based outlet Channel NewsAsia reported the death of singer, songwriter and composer Duncan Sheik at the age of 56. According to a post on his Instagram page, the musician died on the evening of September 17.
In the Instagram post, Sheik was described as an exceptional talent and an influential voice in music and theater. He is survived by his parents, wife Nora Ariffin, and daughter Inez.
The musical Spring Awakening
Sheik's best-known theatrical work was the musical Spring Awakening, based on a play by German playwright Frank Wedekind. Sheik wrote the music, while playwright Steven Sater wrote the lyrics. Set in 19th-century Germany, the production openly addressed incest, abortion and suicide.
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The musical ran on Broadway from 2006 and had more than 860 performances. It won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, as well as a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album. The original cast included Jonathan Groff, Lea Michele, Lilli Cooper, Jennifer Damiano, Gideon Glick, John Gallagher Jr., Lauren Pritchard and Krysta Rodriguez.
From pop music to theater
Sheik's self-titled debut album was released in 1996. His song Barely Breathing spent 55 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaked at number 16. The song was nominated for a Grammy in 1998 in the Best Male Pop Vocal Performance category.
Sheik also worked on the musicals American Psycho, first staged in London in 2013, and Alice in Wonderland. His other projects included the album and musical Whisper House, as well as the record Legerdemain. The musician's last album, Claptrap, was released in 2022.
