Jean Knight - 'Mr. Big Stuff' Singer Dead at 80

Jean Knight, the R&B and funk singer behind the 1971 hit "Mr. Big Stuff," has died. She was 80. "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 shared via the Stax Museum of American Soul Music on Sunday. Knight died Wednesday, her family confirmed. Knight, born Jean Caliste, released her first song, a cover of Jackie Wilson's song "Stop Doggin' Me Around" in 1965. Her success climbed in 1971 with the release of "Mr. Big Stuff," which landed her a deal with Stax Records. "'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. The hit sold over one million copies and earned her a Grammy Award nomination in 1972 for best female R&B vocal performance alongside Diana Ross, Janis Joplin, Freda Payne and the category winner Aretha Franklin. Do me a favor, Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jvthedj There's nothing better than great 80s and 90s music and pop culture. And I've got it. Subscribe for lots of fun videos, music, movies and shows from that era. And check me out weeknights on the Evening Show w/ JV from 7-Midnight. I'm Live with the best music of that era.Just go to eagleonlineardio.com or on the Live365 app and search for Eagle Online Radio. Or even easier, say "Alexa, launch Eagle Online Radio." Support my Patreon: https://patreon.com/JVTheDJ Follow me on Social Media: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JVtheDJ Twitter: @JVtheDJ Insta: @theeveningshowwithjvhttps://www.facebook.com/TheEagleOnlineRadio LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eagleonlineradio Website: eagleonlineradio.com #viralvideo #shortsfeed #trending

Added 2 Apr 2026