Shonka Dukureh, who had a starring role in the recently released Baz Luhrmann biopic Elvis, has died at age 44. The blues singer was found unresponsive by one of her children at their Nashville apartment on Thursday, according to local law enforcement. Metro Nashville Police Department said there is no suspicion of foul play and a cause of death is pending the results of an autopsy.
Dukureh shared her apartment with her two kids and a neighbour, alerted by the child who found, called 911 at 9:27 a.m. Thursday. Thornton was the first to record Leiber and Stoller’s Hound Dog and the single was released in February 1953. Three years later, Elvis Presley released a cover version which became a worldwide hit.
Speaking about the role, Dukureh told The Tennessean that she could relate to Thornton who ‘was really raw with what she did and very honest and truthful and [made] music as she felt it. And I could totally relate to that.’
She went on: ‘I was very aware and wanting to really be intentional about making sure I was paying respect, respecting her, respecting her legacy, respecting her spirit, respecting everything about what she brought to music and understanding that I’m able to do it because she’s done it and laid that foundation.’
At the time of her death, Dukureh was working on her first full-length studio album which she described as ‘a tribute to the blues music genre in celebration of those fierce unsung pioneering artists and musicians who paved the way for the rock and roll music revolution.’
In April, Australian filmmaker Luhrmann had paid tribute to Dukureh who stars in the biopic opposite Austin Butler as Elvis Presley and Tom Hanks as Col. Tom Parker.
Luhrmann, 59, shared pics of the two of them together and wrote: ‘The whole cast and crew of @Elvismovie are so thrilled and proud of @iamShonkaDukureh, who is playing Big Mama Thornton in the film, for her performance on stage at Coachella with @DojaCat for her new song ‘Vegas’.’
Source: People
In other news – Unathi talks about the day when she met American actor, Samuel Jackson
Unathi has taken to her social media to throw back to when she met American actor, Samuel Jackson. The star shared photos of them together as she reminisces on the moments together.
Unathi revealed that she was so nervous when she met with him. Learn more
