Elvis actress Shonka Dukureh passes away at 44, one month after big screen debut

Well-known singer and artist named Shonka Dukureh passed away on Thursday. This came after her debut movie 'Elvis' was released on June 24.

TNN
Representational image.
Shonka Dukureh, a blues musician and artist, was discovered dead in her Nashville residence on Thursday. According to the police, Dukureh, 44, was discovered in the room of the house where she and her two children resided.

The singer and actress was best known for her new film, 'Elvis'. In the film, the actress played Big Mama Thornton.

Dukureh was found motionless by one of her children. One of Dukureh's children reportedly noticed that she was still and went to a neighbour's house for help. Investigators claim that the witness dialed 911 at 9:27 a.m.


According to police, there seems to be no fraud involved in her death. The medical team is still trying to determine the reason for the death.

Dukureh, born in Charlotte, North Carolina, and currently residing in Nashville, earned a graduation degree in theatre from Fisk University. She also completed her post-graduation in education at Trevecca Nazarene University.

The singer took part as Big Mama Thornton in her first movie Elvis. Big Mama Thornton was really open and sincere in everything she performed, which made her music for Dukureh quite raw and true to how she felt.
ADVERTISEMENT

Elvis was released on June 24.

John Cooper, the mayor of Nashville, tweeted his sympathies to Dukureh's family.

Dukureh's career - from teaching to singing
According to her website, the Hollywood celebrity, who had a passion for teaching, was planning to release her debut album this summer.

In one of her interviews, Dukureh said she had previously worked as a class teacher with inner-city youngsters through after-school and summer programmes. Her pupils, whom she had taught earlier, contacted her when they saw her as Elvis.
ADVERTISEMENT

After the movie was made, Dukureh's rendition of the track Hound Dog, which Thornton released in 1952, became popular online. In addition to her time as Big Mama Thornton in the singer's Vegas video, Dukureh was well-known to many Doja Cat fans. According to her website, Dukureh is also well renowned for her musical abilities and has collaborated with performers, such as Smoke Dza, Pete Rock, Nick Cave, Bahamas and Mike Farris.
Download
The Economic Times Business News App
for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App
for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
READ MORE
ADVERTISEMENT

READ MORE:

LOGIN & CLAIM

50 TIMESPOINTS

More from our Partners

Loading next story
Business News › News › International › US News › Elvis actress Shonka Dukureh passes away at 44, one month after big screen debut
Text Size:AAA
Success
This article has been saved

*

+