Jean Knight, ‘Mr. Big Stuff’ Singer, Dead at 80

November 28, 2023

*“Mr. Big Stuff” singer Jean Knight has passed away at 80.

The New Orleans native died Wednesday (Nov. 22) of natural causes in Tampa, Florida, the Associated Press reports.

“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,” the singer’s family said in a statement.

“Mr. Big Stuff” was a chart-topping track that reached No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B chart and No. 2 on the Billboard 200 pop chart, per the AP. The soulful song earned Knight a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 1972.

We’re so sorry to hear that the one and only Ms. Jean Knight has passed away at the age of 80. The Louisiana-born artist released her album MR. BIG STUFF in 1971, and she quickly became an irreplaceable member of the Stax family. Our thoughts and prayers are with her loved ones. pic.twitter.com/5wuRXh7Lji

— Stax Records (@StaxRecords) November 27, 2023

“‘Mr. Big Stuff,’ which became famous for the infectious refrain, ‘Who do you think you are?’, wasn’t just a chart-topping anthem; it was the product of soulful, syncopated melodies that echoed through the Crescent City,” Knight’s family wrote in the tribute, according to USA Today.

Knight recorded several albums after the anthem’s success and formed her own record label. As well as performing on large festival stages, she spent years serving up live shows in more intimate French Quarter venues.

“She was genuinely a nice person with a gentle spirit … whenever I saw her she was always smiling,” said Reginald Toussaint, an engineer for one of Knight’s albums and the executive director of production for the New Orleans Jazz Fest and Essence Music Festival, per the AP.

Knight was known as a loving mother and grandmother who loved cooking and celebrating Mardi Gras in her community.

“New Orleans and the music world mourns the loss of one its most treasure musical daughters, Jean Knight,” her family said in a statement to USA TODAY.

“Her concerts were not just performances but celebrations of the enduring bond she shared with those who appreciated her music. Whether in the intimate venues of the French Quarter or on the grand stages of global music festivals, Ms. Knight made every fan a cherished part of her extended musical family,” Knight’s family wrote.

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