Jean Knight had one big hit, but boy, what a hit.
“Mr. Big Stuff” was a humongous radio smash in the summer of 1971. You couldn’t get away from it and you didn’t want to. Jean sang it with such personality, it was the kind of single you never get tired of hearing. It earned her a Grammy nomination, too. And to this day, “Mr. Big Stuff” is heard over and over again.
“Mr. Big Stuff” was part of the revitalized Stax Records of the early 70s. Interestingly, though, it was recorded at the nearby Jackson, Mississippi record label, Malaco. But as her bio says, they didn’t know what to do with it. (Right after losing “Mr. Big Stuff,” Malaco was smart to jump on the bandwagon for Denise LaSalle, and hits with her.) It was recorded in the same session as King Floyd’s hit, “Groove Me.”
Jean was paid once to record the song. But because she didn’t write it, she received no royalties beyond record sales– if she even got those. When you hear her voice over those bouncy New Orleans horns, remember that it’s coming to you for free.
So sorry to hear that Jean has passed at age 80. She’s part of R&B history. Condolences to her family and friends.
