One of her sons found her passed out in the bedroom of her Kothe Way apartment Thursday and went to a neighbor for help, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department.
The neighbor called the police, according to authorities, who reported that his death she is unclassified pending autopsy results from the medical examiner.
The Mayor of Nashville, John Coopershared his condolences: “His powerful voice and artistry will live on through his music, and we honor his memory on this sad day.”
Director of Elvis, Baz Luhrman, paid tribute to Dukureh on Instagram. “Today a special light went out and the entire ‘Elvis’ family is heartbroken at the loss of Shonka Dukureh,” she wrote.
“Whenever I was on set, on stage, or even alone in the room, everyone always felt uplifted,” Luhrmann continued. “Shonka was starting to find a larger audience with her tremendous talent, and I got to see her turn on entire crowds at Coachella.”
“I, along with all of Elvis’s cast, crew and musical collaborators, feel truly blessed to have spent time with her,” added the filmmaker. “We send all our love and support to Shonka’s children and family at this time.”
The publication was shared by the actor austin butlerwho played Elvis in the film.
Dukureh was from Charlotte, North Carolina, and lived in Nashville. He studied theater at Fisk University and earned a master’s degree in education from Trevecca Nazarene University, according to his website.
“Honka’s initial career aspiration was to become a teacher, however, she would soon learn that her vocal talents, coupled with an innate sense of the dramatic, were best suited for a career as a performer,” states her website.
Elvis it was Dukureh’s first major film role and his voice is in the film version of “Hound Dog”.
The character he played Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thorntonwas the first to record “Hound Dog” by jerry leiber Y mike stoller in 1952.
Reflecting on her role as Big Mama Thornton, she told The Tennessean a few days ago: “(Big Mama Thornton) was very raw with what she did and very honest and truthful.” She added that she made “music just the way I felt it. And I could totally relate to it.”
Source: Ambito
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