The news of the passing of the iconic Jean Knight, creator of the funk-filled and sassy hit "Mr. Big Stuff" in 1971, has been confirmed.
Jean Knight Cause of Death
She succumbed to natural causes at 80 years old, with her friend Bernie Cyrus - executive director of Louisiana's Music Commission - making a statement 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."
He said, "She was always willing to get involved with good causes and help. 'Mr. Big Stuff' - it was just so universal. People remember it. And look, so many people covered it. But nobody did it like Jean."
Jean Knight Career
In 1943, Jean Caliste was born in the city of New Orleans. Although she recorded her first demo track as a cover of Jackie Wilson's "Stop Doggin' Me Around" back in 1965, she had yet to gain recognition beyond the local area.
Jean worked as a baker to make ends meet while waiting for a breakthrough hit. In 1970, all that changed when she teamed up with producer Wardell Quezergue and created the song "Mr. Big Stuff," which elevated her popularity and solidified her music career.
"Mr. Big Stuff" was undoubtedly different from what most labels sought - a gloriously spiky gem of the early 70s soul and funk scene. It featured Jean blatantly unimpressed by an overly confident man's car and clothes, reprimanding him for his careless treatment of other women. Despite its unique sound, it was initially refused by several companies.
Once King Floyd's "Groove Me" achieved success on the same day as Jean's song, "Mr. Big Stuff," Stax Records suddenly remembered Jean Knight.
This track ended up topping the US R&B chart and achieved popularity with mainstream audiences, too - it managed to reach an impressive number two on the pop chart but was blocked from achieving the number one spot by "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" by The Bee Gees.
The success of Jean Knight's 1971 single "Mr. Big Stuff" was remarkable, resulting in a double platinum certification and a nomination for best female R&B vocal performance at the 1972 Grammy Awards. However, disagreements between Quezergue's and Stax's records soon led to her being dropped from the label.
Jean Knight's Net Worth
At the time of her death in November 2023, it is estimated that Jean Knight's net worth was between $2 million and $5 million.
Her primary source of income came from her music career, which included revenues from album sales, concerts, and royalties.
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