#SHOWBIZ: Grammy and Tony award-winning composer Duncan Sheik dies aged 56

LOS ANGELES: Duncan Sheik, the celebrated singer-songwriter behind the 1996 hit single Barely Breathing and the Tony Award-winning composer of Spring Awakening, has died at the age of 56.

His mother, Suzanne, confirmed his passing to The New York Times, saying that the cause of death was organ failure.

According to Rolling Stone, his death follows an unspecified health issue earlier in the week that had left him in a critical but stable condition in hospital.

A statement posted to Sheik's official social media accounts paid tribute to his memory: "It is with profound sadness that we confirm the passing of Duncan Sheik. The world has lost a singular talent, and deeply influential voice in music and theatre."

The post added that the singer would be fondly remembered for "his sensitivity, wit, intelligence, and depth of spirit."

Born in New Jersey, Sheik performed alongside Lisa Loeb whilst studying at Brown University before launching his self-titled debut album in 1996.

The record spawned Barely Breathing, which spent 55 consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and earned him a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

Although Barely Breathing marked his main commercial chart success, Sheik maintained a prolific recording career, releasing nine studio albums.

His 2001 record Phantom Moon, a tribute to Nick Drake, established a key partnership with poet and lyricist Steven Sater.

The pair subsequently collaborated on the acclaimed 2006 rock musical Spring Awakening, based on an 1891 German play.

The production proved to be a critical triumph, winning Best Musical at the Tony Awards, whilst Sheik earned Tonys for Best Original Score and Best Orchestrations, alongside a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.

Speaking about his bond with Sater, Sheik once remarked, "I think he is a genius. He is 'out there', eccentric and unique, and that's why I love him. I try to make sure my music has those qualities in it."

Over the next two decades, Sheik composed scores for numerous stage productions, including musical adaptations of Alice in Wonderland, The Secret Life of Bees, and American Psycho.

Discussing the latter's 2016 Broadway run, he explained he wanted the production to be "a little deeper and more ambiguous, weird and strange, and, hopefully, beautiful."

At the time of his death, he was preparing for an off-Broadway staging of Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen this autumn, alongside an upcoming revival of Spring Awakening scheduled for November.

Expressing their gratitude following the sad news, Sheik's family said: "We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love from his fans, friends, collaborators, and the artistic community. His musical legacy will continue to inspire generations to come."