For the Friday Forgotten 45 at 3:45 we pay tribute to singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik who passed away earlier today at the age of only 56. From 1996 it’s his hit “Barely Breathing”.
Born in New Jersey, Duncan learned to play the piano from his grandmother who had studied at Julliard. He then got his first electric guitar and played Def Leppard and Van Halen songs in a cover band. In 1988 he enrolled in Brown University where he played guitar for Lisa Loeb (“Stay”). After graduation he moved to Los Angeles and in 1996 released his self-titled debut album which featured his only top 40 hit “Barely Breathing”. The song went to #16 on the Hot 100.
More recently he had spent his time writing music for theatre productions and was a two-time winner of a Tony Award on Broadway. It was reported a few days ago that he was in critical condition and earlier this morning his mother confirmed that he had passed away from organ failure.
At a time when bands like Nirvana and Soundgarden were popular, Duncan Sheik went the other way with “Barely Breathing” it’s today’s Forgotten 45.
