Jean Knight, Singer of #1 Hit ‘Mr. Big Stuff,’ Dies at 80

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Jean Knight performing “Mr. Big Stuff” on Soul Train

Jean Knight, who earned a #1 pop and R&B hit in 1971 with “Mr. Big Stuff,” died on November 22, 2023, in New Orleans. News of her passing of natural causes, at age 80, was first reported by TMZ on Nov. 26.

This biography is adapted from her website: Knight was born on January 26, 1943, in New Orleans. “Mr. Big Stuff,” which she recorded at Malaco Studio in Jackson, Miss., for Stax Records, held the #1 spot for five weeks on the Billboard R&B chart, peaking at #2 on the Hot 100. The song reached #1 on the pop singles chart of competitor Record World on August 7, 1971, ahead of hits by James Taylor and the Bee Gees. The publication ranked the single at #15 for the entire year behind such evergreens as “Joy To the World” by Three Dog Night and “It’s Too Late” by Carole King. The Grammy-nominated, crossover hit went on to sell over two million copies.

From the Mr. Big Stuff album, Knight charted a second single, “You Think You’re Hot Stuff.” The song reached # 19 on the R&B chart. With a peak of just #57 on the pop chart, Knight is thus considered a one-hit wonder.