Singer Jean Knight, known for the hit classic “Mr. Big Stuff,” has passed away at the age of 80. The R&B/Soul singer’s family put out a press release announcing her death the day before Thanksgiving. Knight’s publicist told TMZ that she died from natural causes.
Birth of a Star
She was born Jean Caliste in New Orleans, Louisiana on Jan. 26, 1943. Knight’s singing career started in her cousin’s Crescent City bar “Laura’s Place.” Shortly after she began singing there she recorded several singles.
The Soul singer changed her name to Knight because she believed her real last name was hard to pronounce. At first she gained local stardom, however, she was not known nationwide. By the late 1960s, she worked as a baler Loyola University’s cafeteria.
In 1970, as she was walking a New Orleans street to pay her electric bill, a friend stopped her to tell her producer Wardell Quezerque was looking for her. Apparently, he had some new material he wanted to have her check out, according to Stax Records. Subsequently, he took her to Malaco Studio in Jackson, Mississippi, where she cut a single titled “Mr. Big Stuff.”
Smash Hit
However, the song did not go far until Stax Records caught wind of it later that year. The record company released song and it became a smash hit. In fact, “Mr. Big Stuff” climbed to number 1 on the R&B charts while hitting the number two spot in the Pop charts.
The instant hit earned Knight a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female category. However, the song appeared to be a one hit wonder for the label causing Knight to leave Stax Records.
Additionally, after leaving the company Knight went on to record LPs and singles on other labels. Hits like, “My Toot Toot,” “Let the Good Times Roll,” “My Heart Is Willing,” “Save the Last Kiss for Me,” and many more.
Her family has asked for privacy as they mourn the loss of their loved one.
By Sheena Robertson
Sources:
Stax Records: JEAN KNIGHT
TMZ: ‘Mr. Big Stuff’ Singer Jean Knight Dead at 80
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Inset Image Courtesy of Bela Troszt‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
