Jean Knight, "Mr. Big Stuff" Singer, Dead At 80

Jean Knight, who sang the 1971 classic hit “Mr. Big Stuff,” has died at 80 years old, according to Rolling Stone.

“She was the first person we appointed on the board when we took it over and we had a long relationship with her and she was just fabulous,” stated Bernie Cyrus, executive director of the Louisiana Music Commission for two decades. “She was always willing to get involved with good causes and help out.”

Speaking to the impact of “Mr. Big Stuff,” he added, “It was just so universal. People remember it. And look, so many people covered it. But nobody did it like Jean.”

The New Orleans-native recorded her first demo in 1965, a rendition of Jackie Wilson’s “Stop Doggin’ Me Around.” From there, Knight signed to Jet Star/Tribe Records and eventually began working with record producer Wardell Quezergue, leading to the smash hit, “Mr. Big Stuff.”

The funk record called out misogyny, boasting the big question, “who do you think you are?” The Grammy-nominated track went double-Platinum and dominated the charts. Reportedly, “Mr. Big Stuff” also sold over 3,000,000 copies, according to the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.

Unable to create another record of “Mr. Big Stuff’s” caliber, Knight began working with producer Isaac Bolden 10 years later. Knight released another track, “You Got the Papers (But I Got the Man),” under Atlantic Records.

Most recently, Knight’s song “Do Me” appeared on the Superbad soundtrack in 2007, the same year she was inducted into the Louisiana Music Commission Hall of Fame.

VIBE sends their condolences to Jean Knight’s loved ones.

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