Duncan Sheik, ‘Barely Breathing’ Singer and Tony-Winning Composer, Dies at 56

NEW YORK: Singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik, whose 1996 hit “Barely Breathing” became a defining song for Generation X before he moved into musical theatre, has died in Manhattan at the age of 56.

Sheik died on Thursday, September 17, after heart failure led to cardiac arrest, his family said. His mother, Suzanne Sheik, had earlier told The New York Times that the cause of death was cardiac arrest.

He is survived by his wife, Nora Ariffin, and their 7-year-old daughter, Ines.

Early Life and Music Career

Sheik was born on November 18, 1969, in Montclair, New Jersey. His grandmother, who had trained at the Juilliard School, taught him to play piano before he later switched to guitar.

He graduated from Brown University in 1992. During his university years, he worked with future hitmaker Lisa Loeb.

After graduation, Sheik moved to Los Angeles with a demo tape. He was known for his strong reluctance toward fame despite pursuing a career in music.

His self-titled debut album was released in 1996. The album’s biggest success came with “Barely Breathing,” a song about a relationship falling apart.

The track reached No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained on the chart for 55 weeks. At the time, that was the fourth-longest run in the chart’s history.

The song earned a Grammy nomination and turned Sheik into an unexpected MTV heartthrob. However, he disliked the attention that came with pop stardom.

Success on Broadway

Sheik eventually moved away from the pop music spotlight and focused on musical theatre.

His biggest theatre success came with “Spring Awakening,” the acclaimed 2006 rock musical. Sheik wrote the music for the production, which earned him two Tony Awards and a Grammy.

His family described him as a unique and influential figure in both music and theatre.

“Sheik has left us with a singular talent and profoundly influential voice in music and theatre,” his family said in a statement.