Jean Knight, who earned a #1 pop and R&B hit in 1971 with “Mr. Big Stuff,” died on November 22, 2023, in New Orleans. News of her passing of natural causes, at age 80, was first reported by TMZ on Nov. 26.
This biography is adapted from her website: Knight was born on January 26, 1943, in New Orleans. “Mr. Big Stuff,” which she recorded at Malaco Studio in Jackson, Miss., for Stax Records, held the #1 spot for five weeks on the Billboard R&B chart, peaking at #2 on the Hot 100. The song reached #1 on the pop singles chart of competitor Record World on August 7, 1971, ahead of hits by James Taylor and the Bee Gees. The publication ranked the single at #15 for the entire year behind such evergreens as “Joy To the World” by Three Dog Night and “It’s Too Late” by Carole King. The Grammy-nominated, crossover hit went on to sell over two million copies.
From the Mr. Big Stuff album, Knight charted a second single, “You Think You’re Hot Stuff.” The song reached # 19 on the R&B chart. With a peak of just #57 on the pop chart, Knight is thus considered a one-hit wonder.
In the 1990’s “Mr. Big Stuff” became popular again when it appeared on compilation albums, numerous TV commercials and movie soundtracks.
Watch Knight perform her big hit at the 2013 Jazz Fest in her native New Orleans
Related: Musicians we’ve lost in 2023
