Dukureh was found unconscious by her child at home in the US city of Nashville, police said. A neighbor was called and he informed the authorities. There is no indication that the actress was killed.
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Dukurehová has been doing very well at work at the moment, this year she starred in a new award-winning film about the king of rock and roll Elvis, where she portrayed a legendary blues singer.
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She considered herself mainly a musician. She was currently preparing her first solo album, a tribute to the classic bluesmen who inspired the birth of rock music.
In the past, she also collaborated with Nick Cave, Mike Farris, Pete Rock or the group Smoke Dza and Bahamas.
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In the film, Elvis featured a distinctive American artist who called herself Big Mama Thornton. In the 1950s, she recorded, among other things, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller’s song Hound Dog. Elvis Presley admired the song and later released his own version.
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Big Mama Thornton
Photo: Ahoolie Records
Although the native of Alabama was not as famous as Elvis, she achieved considerable success and critics today rank her among the most important names in rhythm and blues. In the 1960s, she also performed in Europe, where she released the album Big Mama Thornton – In Europe in collaboration with guitarist Buddy Guy. Big Mama Thornton with the Muddy Waters Blues Band followed, and then Ball n’ Chain with the famous title track, which Janis Joplin took from her.
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She finally fulfilled her dream of releasing a gospel album, the album Saved with the classic songs Oh, Happy Day, Down By The Riverside, Glory, Glory Hallelujah, He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands and Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. Big Mama Thornton died in 1984.
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