Shonka Dukureh cause of death latest news – Tributes to Elvis actress flood Twitter after movie star found dead
SINGER and actress Shonka Dukureh has died at the age of 44.
The blues vocalist was found in her Nashville apartment on Thursday morning after police responded to a call from her neighbor.
One of Shonka's children found her unresponsive in their home and went to a neighbor's apartment for help around 9.27am, the Metro Nashville Police Department said.
Fans and costars are taking to social media to mourn the actress, who was known for her recent appearance as Big Mama Thornton in the movie Elvis.
Shonka's cause of death has not been identified, but police do not suspect foul play.
Read our Shonka Dukureh blog for updates on her death...
Councilwoman mourns
Councilwoman Zulfat Suara shared on Twitter that though she never met Shonka in person, that they spoke on the phone just days ago.
“I never met her but she was kind & easy to talk to,” Suara wrote.
“She was generous with her time and talent.”
Where was Shonka found?
Nashville police found the actress in the bedroom of her Nashville home on Kothe Way.
Shonka shared the apartment with her two young children.
How did Shonka die?
The singer and actress was found dead at her home in Nashville on Thursday.
Autopsy results from the medical examiner are still pending.
Nashville police said there were no signs of foul play.
Praised performances, continued
Some of Shonka’s other performances include:
- Featured Lead Vocalist for Bahamas recording artist Christopher Roberts and Friends The Choir Project
- Background Vocals for Multiple Grammy Award Winner Ashley Cleveland’s 2009 Album God Don’t Never Change
- Detroit’s Gem Theatre’s 2006 Production of Respect: The Musical Journey of Women directed and choreographed by three-time Tony Award winner Hinton Battle
Praised performances
Shonka was not only praised for her role as an actress but she was often praised for her performances as a vocalist, according to her .
Some of her praiseworthy achievements include:
- Featured Soloist for Emmy Nominated Nick Cave: Featuring Nashville Symphony at the Schermerhorn Center
- Background Vocals for Grammy Award Winner Mike Farris on his 2018 Album Silver and Stone
- Background Vocals for legendary music producer Pete Rock and Smoke Dza’s 2016 album Don’t Smoke Rocks
- Featured Lead Vocalist 2016 Album Nate Bean and 4Given Hymns and Devotionals Unplugged
How Shonka was cast
Regarding the casting process for Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, Shonka told : “I received a call from a friend in the music scene.
“From what I understand, she was doing some consulting to find talent to do some of the music background for the film.
“She asked me to record myself singing a couple of songs and send her the video.”
The actress further shared: “She passed it along to Baz [Luhrmann] and his company that was putting the movie together.
“They liked what they saw and had me come in and do a duet with Yola, who’s playing sister Rosetta in the film.
“They also had me do several songs from Big Mama Thornton’s repertoire.”
Theater performances
With her bachelor’s degree in theater, Shonka has taken to the stage many times to sing and act in touring musicals and plays around the country.
The vocalist was critically acclaimed for her role in American Duet and won the 2003 Tennessean Theatre Award for Best Musical Direction or Performance as a Vocalist.
Shonka also spent over 10 years performing with multi-media musical production First Amendment Center’s Freedom Sings at campuses and conferences all across the country.
Upcoming performance
Shonka was set to perform this Saturday, July 23, at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
The performance was to take place after a march for representative John Lewis Way.
The group will pay respects to Shonka after the march, according to councilwoman .
Nashville Mayor mourns
Nashville Mayor John Cooper mourned Shonka’s death with a .
He shared his condolences to the loved ones of Shonka, who “called Nashville home for many years.”
The mayor wrote: “Her powerful voice and artistry will live on through her music, and we honor her memory on this sad day.”
‘More than just a beautiful voice’
One heartbroken fan shared a prayer for Shonka’s loved ones on Twitter.
“Lord, please wrap her babies and loved ones in love and healing,” the Twitter user wrote.
International tour
The singer toured around the world with artist Jamie Liddell and the Royal Pharaohs.
Shonka’s manager Tracy Matthews said of the singer: “She definitely has the ability to tell any song’s story with passion, taking her listeners on an emotional journey as she pours her heart and soul into each and every note and nuance.”
Big boots to fill
Shonka’s role in the Elvis movie was originally meant to just be off-screen, but she was later asked to portray Big Mama Thornton on camera too.
As a blues-lover, it was a dream-come-true role for the singer, who told WPLN: “I knew to really pay tribute to her, I had to tap into my self, my own self-confidence, my own voice.
“She was very adamant that she only had her voice — no one could sing like her and she sang like no one. So I had to also embrace that as our approach to music.”
Since its release, Elvis has won the praise of fans and critic across the world.
Involved community member
Besides her recent Hollywood role, Shonka was known as a gospel singer in her hometown of Nashville.
She was known for her larger-than-life voice and for teaching music to kids in the local community.
Nashville mourns
Music journalist Tim Dillinger shared on Twitter that “the Nashville music community is in shock over this news.”
Tim remembers Shonka as a “fierce, unrelenting talent who gave it her all every time she stepped out.
“She was also a loyal, compassionate, beautiful soul.”
Shonka stunned at Coachella
Earlier this year, the singer performed with Doja Cat at Coachella for two weekends in April.
The musicians performed their hit single Vegas, which was featured in the movie Elvis.
Upcoming album
Shonka’s death comes as she had been preparing to release a studio album this summer.
She previously said that the album would be a “tribute to the blues music genre.”
Who was Shonka Dukureh?
Shonka was raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, but lived in Nashville at the time of her death.
The actress graduated from Fisk University with a bachelor’s degree in theater. She went on to achieve a master’s degree in education at Trevecca Nazarene University.
The mother-of-two landed her first major film role as Big Mama Thornton in this year’s feature film Elvis.
Elvis actress’ tragic death
Actress Shonka Dukureh has passed away aged just 44.
According to TMZ, she was found dead in the bedroom of her apartment in Nashville, Tennessee, by one of her young children on Thursday
The child ran to get help from a neighbor, who then called 911 around 9.30am.
Fans mourn
Elvis fans have taken to social media to mourn the talented vocalist.
Shonka wanted to keep performing
In a now eery quote from an interview that Shonka did with in April, she told the outlet that she was "looking forward to doing it again."
"It's been amazing and I'm looking forward to doing it all over again," the actress said.
"It's just been a dream.
"I didn't even know it was a dream until I really got there and experienced everything, but it has really been a chance of a lifetime, this life-altering experience."
Shonka wanted to keep performing
In a now eery quote from an interview that Shonka did with in April, she told the outlet that she was "looking forward to doing it again."
"It's been amazing and I'm looking forward to doing it all over again," the actress said.
"It's just been a dream.
"I didn't even know it was a dream until I really got there and experienced everything, but it has really been a chance of a lifetime, this life-altering experience."
Showtime
Shonka spoke about her Coachella performance with Doja Cat to .
She told the outlet that when someone asked her if she was nervous, she responded that she would continue even if she was.
"Somebody asked, 'Are you nervous? It's like 70,000 people out there,'" the singer said.
"I said, 'I have come too far now to be nervous because it's showtime now! I can't turn around!'"
Last post
In Shonka's last post on Instagram, she shared a screen recording of an of a choir performance just days ago.
Shonka sang with a gospel choir for years and often shared about her faith in her music and social media posts.
Posture of gratefulness
In an interview that Shonka shared on her last week, the actress reflected on her role in Elvis and talked about her gratefulness for the opportunity.
In the caption of the video, she wrote: "Gratefulness is where I live cuz my granny, gmama, momma, family modeled and instilled it in me.
"It isn't a posture of less than or crumbs scraping, but one that acknowledges good things aren't a guarantee and when we encounter them thankfulness, gratefulness is the least we can express."
Hound dog rendition
Shonka Dukureh's performance as Big Mama Thornton in Elvis included singing a bluesy rendition of Hound Dog.
Hound Dog was originally recorded by Big Mama Thornton in 1952.
It became a hit for Elvis Presley in 1956.