Jean Audrey Knight (née Caliste; January 26, 1943 – November 22, 2023) was an American R&B and soul music singing from New Orleans. Launching her professional career in the mid-1960s, Knight was best known for her 1971 Hit song "Mr. Big Stuff", released by Stax Records.
Biography
Early years
Jean Audrey Caliste was born in New Orleans on January 26, 1943.
After graduating from
high school, she began singing at Laura's Place, her cousin's bar, and caught the attention of many different bands who were willing to accompany her. In 1965, she recorded a demo of a
cover version of
Jackie Wilson's song "Stop Doggin' Me Around". Her demo attracted record producer
Huey Meaux, who signed her to a recording contract at the Jet Star/Tribe record labels.
Shortly thereafter, she adopted the professional name of "Jean Knight", because she felt that her surname Caliste was too hard to pronounce. Knight recorded four singles, making a name for herself locally, but was not able to attract any national attention. By the late 1960s, it was obvious that Knight's career was not living up to her high expectations, so she went to work as a baker in the
cafeteria of St. Mary's Dominican College in New Orleans. She had been raised a
Catholic Church.
Success at Stax
In early 1970, Knight was discovered by songwriter Ralph Williams, who wanted her to record songs. With Williams' connections, Knight came in contact with record producer Wardell Quezergue. In May of that year, Knight went to
Malaco Records in Jackson,
Mississippi, for a recording session during which she recorded "Mr. Big Stuff." After the session was finished, the song was shopped to producers at several national labels, all of whom rejected it. But when
King Floyd's hit "Groove Me" (also recorded at Malaco Studios) became a
chart-topper R&B
hit record in early 1971, a producer at
Stax Records remembered Knight's recording of "Mr. Big Stuff", and released it.
The song also proved to be an instant smash in 1971, reaching No. 2 on the
Popular music record chart and becoming a No. 1 R&B hit.
It went double-platinum and received a
Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female; it lost to
Aretha Franklin's version of "Bridge Over Troubled Water". It sold over two million copies and was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A.
Knight performed the hit song on
Soul Train.
An album of the same name proved to be fairly successful.
A couple more minor hits followed,
but disagreements with her producer and her label terminated Knight's involvement with Stax.
Later years
After leaving Stax, Knight recorded songs for various small labels, but was not able to gain any more recognition,
and ended up performing and touring the local
oldie circuit. Things changed in 1981, when Knight met local producer Isaac Bolden, who signed her to his Soulin' label. Together, they came up with a song entitled "You Got the Papers but I Got the Man", an
answer song to Richard "Dimples" Fields' record, "She's Got Papers On Me"; that song was leased to
Atlantic Records for national release.
Soon, Knight found herself touring consistently. In 1985, Knight gained more recognition when she covered Rockin' Sidney's
zydeco Novelty song hit, "
My Toot-Toot",
and found herself in a chart battle with
Denise LaSalle's version. While LaSalle's version reached the top ten in the United Kingdom, Knight's version was the more successful in the U.S., reaching No. 50 on the pop chart.
Knight was given a chance to perform it on the TV
variety show Solid Gold. The song also became Knight's only hit in South Africa, reaching No. 3.
Although Knight waited twelve years to come out with another recording, she continued touring and performing engagements all over the world, particularly in the Southern states. In 2003, Knight performed , on the PBS special Soul Comes Home. Knight continued to tour and make live performances, often with such artists as Gloria Gaynor. In October 2007, the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame honored Knight for her contributions to Louisiana music by inducting her. Knight's song "Do Me" appeared on the 2007 Superbad soundtrack.
Personal life and death
Knight was married at least twice and had at least one child.
[ Knight married Thomas Commedore and together they had a son.][ In the early 1970s, she was married to New Orleans Dockworker Earl Harris.]
Knight died at a hospital in Tampa, Florida, on November 22, 2023, at the age of 80.
Discography
Studio albums
|
|
|
| 1971 | Mr. Big Stuff | 60 | 8 | Stax Records |
| 1981 | Keep It Comin (with Premium) | ― | ― | Cotillion Records |
| 1985 | My Toot Toot | 181 | ― | Mirage Records |
| 1997 | Shaki de Boo-Tee | ― | ― | Ichiban Records |
| 1999 | Queen | ― | ― | ComStar |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |
Compilation albums
-
1997: The Very Best of Me
Singles
|
|
|
| 1964 | "The Man That Left Me"
"Doggin Around" | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles |
"Lonesome Tonight"
"Love" | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | "T'ain't It the Truth"
"I'm Glad for Your Sake" | — | — | — | — |
"Anyone Can Love Him"
"A Tear" | — | — | — | — |
| 1971 | "Mr. Big Stuff"
"Anyone Can Keep Living These Memories" | 2 | 1 | — | — | Mr. Big Stuff |
"You Think You're Hot Stuff"
"Don't Talk About Jody" | 57 | 19 | — | — | Mr. Big Stuff
(included on the album as a bonus track after the album's re-release) |
| 1972 | "Carry On"
"Call Me Your Fool (If You Want To)" | — | 44 | — | — |
"Helping Man"
"Pick Up the Pieces" | — | — | — | — |
"Do Me"
"Save the Last Kiss for Me" | — | — | — | — |
| 1973 | "Jesse Joe (You Got to Go)"
"Dirt" | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles |
| 1975 | "Don't Ask for 24 Hours"
"Hold Back the Night" | — | — | — | — |
"Jesse James Is an Outlaw"
"Hold Back the Night" | — | — | — | — |
| 1976 | "What One Man Won't Do Another Man Will"
"Rudy Blue" | — | — | — | — |
| 1981 | "Anything You Can Do (I Can Do As Well As You)"
"Gossip" | — | — | — | — | Keep It Comin' |
"You Got the Papers but I Got the Man"
"Anything You Can Do (I Can Do as Well as You)"
(as Jean Knight & Premium) | — | — | — | — |
| 1983 | "La De De - La De Da" (Vocal)
"La De De - La De Da" (Instrumental, Sing-A-Long Track) | — | — | — | — | Non-album single |
| 1985 | "My Toot-Toot"
"My Heart Is Willing (and My Body Is Too)" | 50 | 59 | 62 | 3 | My Toot Toot |
"Let the Good Times Roll"
"Magic" | — | — | — | — |
| 1990 | "Mama's Baby" (Rap)
"Mama's Baby" (Instrumental) | — | — | — | — | Non-album single |
| 1997 | "Bill"
"Bus Stop" | — | — | — | — | Shaki De Boo-Tee |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |
See also
-
List of soul musicians
-
List of 1970s one-hit wonders in the United States
-
List of artists who reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart
-
List of acts who appeared on American Bandstand
-
List of people who appeared on Soul Train
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References
External links
