Who was Mr. Big Stuff singer Jean Knight?
American R&B and soul singer Jean Knight began singing at her cousin's bar, Laura's Place, in the early 1960s.
The New Orleans native is best known for her 1971 hit single Mr. Big Stuff, which launched her to stardom.
Who was Mr. Big Stuff singer Jean Knight?
Jean Knight was born on January 26, 1943, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Her last name was originally Caliste.
After she graduated from high school, she began singing at her cousin's bar, Laura's Place.
In 1965, she recorded a demo of herself covering a Jackie Wilson song, Stop Doggin' Me Around.
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This demo caught the attention of record producer Huey Meaux, who signed Knight to a recording contract at the Jet Star/Tribe record labels.
Nicknamed the "Crazy Cajun," Meaux was a famous American record producer known for signing famous artists, including Roy Head, B.J. Thomas, Freddy Fender, and Gene Summers, among others.
After signing to a label, Knight dropped her legal last name, Caliste, and adopted the stage name "Knight."
She felt as though Caliste was too difficult for audiences to pronounce.
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While Knight was able to make a name for herself in local markets around New Orleans, she struggled to gain nationwide recognition across the US.
That all changed in 1970 when she was discovered by songwriter Ralph Williams.
In May 1970, using Williams' connections, she recorded Mr. Big Stuff at Malaco Studios in Jackson, Mississippi.
She recorded her hit single at the same session as Groove Me by fellow New Orleans singer King Floyd.
Knight then performed the single on Soul Train on December 11, 1971.
It became one of her biggest hits ever and was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 1972 Grammy Awards.
Mr. Big Stuff didn't win the Grammy but was runner-up to Aretha Franklin's Bridge Over Troubled Waters.
The song is addressed to an egotistical man, nicknamed Mr. Big Stuff.
Knight acts as a female narrator, who quickly shows that she's not interested in his expensive cars and fancy clothes, instead demanding that the man return her love for him.
The catchy chorus includes the lyrics: "Mr. Big Stuff / Who do you think you are / Mr. Big Stuff / You're never gonna get my love."
The song eventually reached the second spot on the Billboard Hot 100.
It was also certified double platinum and was the number-one soul single of the year.
The song had longevity, appearing in various TV shows and movies in the 1980s and 1990s.
In a 2002 interview, Knight revealed: "Mr. Big Stuff is better to me now than thirty-one years ago."
“All I have to do is sit at home and wait for the mailman."
In 2007, Knight was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
That same year, another one of Knight's songs, Do Me, appeared in the Judd Apatow-produced movie, Superbad, starring Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, and Emma Stone.
What was her cause of death?
On Sunday, November 26, 2023, TMZ reported that the famous soul singer had passed away.
They attributed this report to a press release that had been circulating X, formerly Twitter, over the last week.
The press release states that the singer passed away on Wednesday, November 22, 2023.
It is currently unknown whether the singer died from natural causes, or for other reasons, like a recent illness.
Knight was 80 years old at the time of her passing.
Tributes quickly poured in on social media as fans mourned the famous singer.
The press release also asked for the public's privacy.
"The family of Jean Knight kindly requests privacy during this difficult time and expresses heartfelt gratitude for the love and support from fans."
At this time, no public funeral arrangements have been made or publicized.
Was Jean Knight married?
Jean Knight's personal life is largely unknown to the public.
She has been married at least twice.
Her first marriage was to Thomas Commodore.
The duo had a son together, Emile Commodore.
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It is unclear when she and Thomas split up, but Knight did end up remarrying.
In the early 1970s, Knight married New Orleans longshoreman Earl Harris.
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