Duncan Sheik, Who Traded Pop Stardom for Broadway, Dies at 56

Duncan Sheik, the introspective singer-songwriter whose alt-pop hit “Barely Breathing” became a Generation X touchstone, died Thursday in Manhattan at 56. His mother, Suzanne Sheik, said the cause was organ failure. Sheik arrived in Los Angeles in 1992 with a demo tape, uneasy with the spotlight, but soon became a breakout star. In 1996, Rolling Stone praised his debut album for its defiant spirit, while “Barely Breathing” peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed on the chart for 55 weeks. He later shifted to Broadway, composing the musical “Spring Awakening,” which won two Tonys.