Updated 20m ago · Entertainment
Duncan Sheik, 'Spring Awakening' Composer, Dies at 56
Singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik died Thursday of organ failure at a Manhattan hospital. His mother, Suzanne Sheik, confirmed the cause to The New York Times.
- 56 years old at his death, Sheik had been in critical condition one day earlier.
- 'Barely Breathing' spent 55 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 16.
- Spring Awakening won eight Tony Awards in 2007, including best musical and best original score.
- The show ran over 860 Broadway performances starting in 2006.
Why it matters: Sheik bridged pop and theater in ways that reshaped both. His career traced a rare path from radio hit to Tony-winning composer.
- Spring Awakening launched the careers of Jonathan Groff, Lea Michele, and others who became major stage and screen figures.
- A new off-Broadway production of Spring Awakening was already in development at the time of his death.
How 37 sources split on this story
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37 sources · 39 articles · 35% Left coverage
Center coverage, 13 sources: The center focuses on Sheik's dual identity as pop hitmaker and award-winning composer, anchoring the story in verified biographical and award facts.
USA Today5hDuncan Sheik, ‘Spring Awakening’ composer, dead at 56TNDThe National Desk4hTony and Grammy winner Duncan Sheik, composer of "Spring Awakening," dies at 56
Associated Press3hDuncan Sheik, Tony- and Grammy-winning 'Spring Awakening' composer and pop star, dies at 56
Billboard5hDuncan Sheik, ‘Barely Breathing’ Singer and Tony-Winning Broadway Composer, Dies at 56
Chicago Tribune5hDuncan Sheik, Tony- and Grammy-winning ‘Spring Awakening’ composer and pop star, dies at 56CNCTV News5hDuncan Sheik, Tony- and Grammy-winning 'Spring Awakening' composer and pop star, dies at 56
Deadline5hDuncan Sheik Dies: ‘Barely Breathing’ Singer-Songwriter, ‘Spring Awakening’ Composer Was 56
Newsweek4h'Barely Breathing' Singer Duncan Sheik Dies, Survived by Wife Nora Ariffin
Reuters2hDuncan Sheik, Tony-winning composer of 'Spring Awakening,' dies at 56
TMZ5h'Barely Breathing' Singer Duncan Sheik Dead at 56WNWESH 2 News5hDuncan Sheik, Tony- and Grammy-winning 'Spring Awakening' composer and pop star, dies at 56WNCWFLA News Channel 85hDuncan Sheik, 'Barely Breathing’ singer and Broadway composer, dies at 56Left coverage, 13 sources: The left emphasizes Sheik's artistic ambition and Broadway legacy, detailing how Spring Awakening broke ground in staging and content alongside shows like Rent and Hamilton.
CNN5hDuncan Sheik, Tony- and Grammy-winning ‘Spring Awakening’ composer and pop star, dies at 56
The Independent5hDuncan Sheik, Tony- and Grammy-winning 'Spring Awakening' composer and pop star, dies at 56
Hollywood Reporter5h‘Spring Awakening’ Composer Duncan Sheik Dies at 56
Los Angeles Times5hDuncan Sheik dead: 'Barely Breathing' singer, Tony winner dies at 56
NBC News5hSinger-songwriter and Broadway composer Duncan Sheik dies at 56
Salon3hDuncan Sheik wasn't a one-hit wonderTBGThe Boston Globe5hDuncan Sheik, composer and pop star, dies at 56
The Daily Beast5hAward-Winning ’90s Pop Star Duncan Sheik Dies at 56
The Guardian5hDuncan Sheik, singer and composer of Spring Awakening, dies at 56
The New York Times6hDuncan Sheik, Who Traded Pop Stardom for Broadway, Dies at 56
The Washington Post4hDuncan Sheik, singer-songwriter who found success on pop charts and Broadway, dies at 56
Variety5hDuncan Sheik Dead: 'Barely Breathing,' 'Spring Awakening' Composer Was 56Right coverage, 11 sources: The right leads with Sheik's pop identity, foregrounding 'Barely Breathing' before noting his Broadway work.
Fox News5hDuncan Sheik, ‘Barely Breathing’ singer, dead at 56
Daily Mail5hDuncan Sheik dead at 56: Grammy-winning singer passes away being rushed to hospital... as cause of death is revealed
Boston Herald5hDuncan Sheik, Tony- and Grammy-winning ‘Spring Awakening’ composer and pop star, dies at 56
Breitbart News5hDuncan Sheik, Tony- and Grammy-Winning ‘Spring Awakening’ Composer and Pop Star, Dies at 56
Citizen Free Press4hSinger Duncan Sheik dies at 56.
Just the News20hDuncan Shiek, who sang the hit 'Barely Breathing,' dies at 56
New York Post4h'Barely Breathing' singer Duncan Sheik's cause of death revealed
One America News11hDuncan Sheik, Tony- and Grammy-winning ‘Spring Awakening’ composer and pop star, dies at 56
The Gateway Pundit4hAward Winning “Barely Breathing” Singer Duncan Sheik Dead at 56 * The Gateway Pundit * by Jordan Conradson
The Sun5hSinger Duncan Sheik dead at 56 after ‘suffering cardiac arrest’
The Washington Times5hDuncan Sheik, singer-songwriter and 'Spring Awakening' composer, dies at 56What’s next: The off-Broadway Spring Awakening revival is slated to open this fall.
- The underlying condition that led to his organ failure has not been disclosed publicly.
- What impact, if any, his death will have on the planned off-Broadway production is not yet known.