28 Facts About Duncan Sheik

Duncan Sheik was born on November 18,1969 and is an American singer-songwriter and composer.

Duncan Sheik has composed music for motion pictures and Broadway musicals, winning the 2006 Tony Awards for Best Original Score and Best Orchestrations for his work on the musical Spring Awakening.

Duncan Sheik is the half-brother of Broadway actress Kacie Sheik.

Duncan Sheik's Juilliard-trained grandmother introduced him to the piano, and he later took up the electric guitar.

Early in his musical career, Duncan Sheik played guitar for other artists, including Liz and Lisa.

Duncan Sheik played on His Boy Elroy's 1993 album through his connections from a fellow Brown alum, Tracee Ellis Ross.

In 1996, Duncan Sheik released his self-titled debut album, which was certified gold.

In 1998, Duncan Sheik recorded "Embraceable You" for Red Hot + Rhapsody, a George Gershwin tribute to increase AIDS awareness, and recorded "Songbird" for another tribute, Legacy: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac's Rumours.

Also in 1998, Duncan Sheik released Humming, an experimental follow-up with string arrangements.

Duncan Sheik sang a duet with singer Howard Jones on Jones' 2000 single entitled Someone You Need.

Duncan Sheik released Phantom Moon, a Nick Drake-influenced album on which he collaborated with poet and writer Steven Sater, in 2001.

In 2008, Duncan Sheik was a judge at the 7th annual Independent Music Awards.

In 2011, Duncan Sheik released Covers 80's, an album including covers of popular 1980s songs.

Concert dates in support of the album were later canceled due to Duncan Sheik seeking treatment for alcohol addiction.

Duncan Sheik released a new studio album entitled Legerdemain in October 2015.

Duncan Sheik composed original music for the 2002 New York Shakespeare Festival production of Twelfth Night.

Duncan Sheik wrote the music for Spring Awakening in collaboration with Steven Sater.

Duncan Sheik won the 2006 Tony Award for Best Orchestrations for his work on Spring Awakening, and he and Sater won a Tony Award for Best Original Score.

In 2012, Duncan Sheik wrote Alice By Heart, an adaptation of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, along with collaborator Sater.

Duncan Sheik wrote the music and lyrics to the 2013 musical adaptation of American Psycho, which opened at the Almeida Theatre in London, and was later staged on Broadway in 2016.

In 2013, Duncan Sheik wrote the music for the musical adaptation of the novel Because of Winn-Dixie, which premiered at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre.

In 2015, Duncan Sheik wrote the musical thriller Noir with Kyle Jarrow.

Duncan Sheik produced singer-songwriter Micah Green's 2000 debut album as well as his 2012 follow-up.

In 2000, Duncan Sheik wrote the foreword to The Way of Youth: Buddhist Common Sense for Handling Life's Questions, by Soka Gakkai International leader Daisaku Ikeda.

In 2006, Duncan Sheik recorded the song "A Purple Trail" for Other Songs and Dances, Vol.

In 2008, Duncan Sheik participated in Songs for Tibet: The Art of Peace, an initiative to support Tibet, Dalai Lama, and Tenzin Gyatso.

Duncan Sheik has a daughter, Ines, with his wife, model Nora Ariffin.

Duncan Sheik practices Nichiren Buddhism and is a member of the US branch of the worldwide Buddhist association Soka Gakkai International.