Jean Knight, the big voice behind “Mr. Big Stuff,” died on Wednesday, Nov. 22, at 80, according to her family’s press release.
Born Jean Caliste on Jan. 26, 1943, the New Orleans native took the music world by storm with her rendition of Jackie Wilson’s “Stop Doggin’ Me Around” recorded at JetStream Records.
Unbeknownst to the soulful songstress who worked as a bread maker at Loyola University, she would impress New Orleans producer Wardell Quezergue, who sent one of his songwriters to her with a proposition to sing a few songs.
Sent to Quezergue’s Malaco Studio in Jackson, MS, in May 1970, Jean was introduced to “Mr. Big Stuff,” the track that propelled her music career. Initially, “Mr. Big Stuff” was a ballad, but Jean felt the song needed more pizzazz.
Tasked to sing it how she felt, Jean crushed it during the second take, birthing the prominent track that topped the R&B charts for five weeks and remained second on Billboard’s Hot 100 for 16 weeks.
“Mr. Big Stuff” was a sensation and a chart-topping anthem that carried Jean’s infectious sass as she expressed her love for a man with true love instead of one who attempts to impress with charm and materials.
Quezergue submitted “Mr. Big Stuff” to several national record labels, including Stax Records in Memphis. But they all denied it, prompting the producer to start his own label and release King Floyd’s “Groove Me.”
Floyd’s track became a hit in New Orleans and pushed Stax executives to rethink their decision on “Mr. Big Stuff,” which became an overnight success in Washington and New York.
“Jean KNight’s legacy is not just a musical one; it is a testament to the enduring love between an artist, her hometown and the fans who adored her,” Jean’s family’s press release read. “As we bid farewell to this iconic soulstress, New Orleans and her global fan base join together in gratitude for the indelible mark she left on the world.”
RIP Jean Knight… we’ve all sung Mr. Big Stuff a time or two! pic.twitter.com/wgRECAHHBu
— LBJ?? (@lbjnola) November 26, 2023
