‘Mr. Big Stuff’ Singer Jean Knight Dies At 80

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana – Jean Knight, a soul singer from New Orleans best known for her 1971 single “Mr. Big Stuff,” has died at 80.

Family, friends, fans, and music industry insiders lamented the death of the Grammy-nominated vocalist, regarded as a musical powerhouse and a vital part of New Orleans’ cultural fabric.

Jean died of natural causes on Wednesday in Tampa, Florida, where she was living, according to family spokesman Mona Giamanco. On Monday afternoon, she verified the death to The Associated Press.

“Jean Knight’s legacy is not just a musical one; it is a testament to the enduring love that exists between an artist, her hometown, and the fans who adored her,” the singer’s family said.

‘Mr. Big Stuff’ Singer Jean Knight Dies At 80

Soon after graduating from high school, Jean started singing in her cousin’s New Orleans club. She sang “Mr. Big Stuff” in the early 1970s, a sassy and soulful chart-topping ballad famed for the addictive chorus “Who do you think you are?”

The song peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 2 on the Billboard 200 pop chart, earning Knight a Grammy nomination in 1972 for best female R&B vocal performance. According to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Jean was Stax Records’ best-selling female artist.

Following the success of “Mr. Big Stuff,” She went on to release numerous additional albums, including “(Don’t Mess With) My Toot Toot” and “Bill,” as well as establish her label, Comstar.

‘Mr. Big Stuff’ Singer Jean Knight Dies At 80

Reginald Toussaint worked as an engineer on one of Knight’s albums and even assisted in mixing a song written for it by his father, musical great Allen Toussaint. Reginald Toussaint later befriended Knight, whom he characterized as a “wonderful woman.”

“She was genuinely a nice person with a gentle spirit… whenever I saw her, she was always smiling,” Toussaint, executive director of production for the New Orleans Jazz Fest and Essence Music Festival, said.

Knight spent years touring and performing in New Orleans on major festival stages and smaller French Quarter locations.

‘Mr. Big Stuff’ Singer Jean Knight Dies At 80

Aside from her soulful, sassy, and happy performances, she was known among family and friends as a mother and grandmother who enjoyed cooking Creole foods and celebrating Mardi Gras.

The details of her funeral plans were not immediately available.

Jean is an American soul and R&B singer, best known for her 1971 hit song “Mr. Big Stuff.” The song reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was a significant success for Knight.

She continued to release music throughout the 1970s and 1980s, solidifying her status as a prominent figure in the soul music genre.

Knight’s impact on the music industry and her enduring legacy make her a notable figure in the history of soul and R&B music.

SOURCE – (AP)