Song:Mr. Big Stuff
Album:Music From The Motion Picture Crooklyn
The 1972 smash Mr. Big Stuff was the one big chart hit for Jean Knight and was also one of Stax's biggest hits though it wasn't recorded at Stax in Memphis and Stax turned it down at first. She was born Jean Caliste Jan. 26, 1943 in New Orleans. Jean was performing in New Orleans clubs when she was spotted by producer Huey P. Meaux and he signed her to his Jet Star label in 1965. She changed her name to Knight because she thought Caliste was too hard to pronounce. Jean recorded a few singles but they didn't go anywhere so she went to work as a baker at Loyola University. She started working with songwriter Ralph Williams and he brought her to producer Wardell Quezergue. He took them to record at Malaco Records in Jackson, MS and Mr. Big Stuff was recorded for Malaco's Chimneyville label. Malaco owner Tommy Couch tried to license the song nationally but Stax turned it down. They changed their minds after King Floyd's Groove Me on Chimneyville became a #1 R & B hit. Mr. Big Stuff topped the R & B charts and reached #2 on the pop singles charts. Though most folks probably have no idea about Jean Knight, Mr. Big Stuff is a very memorable song. This soundtrack for the Spike Lee film Crooklyn is filled with soul classics. Jean Knight returned to obscurity until she got together with producer Isaac Bolden and had a minor hit in 1981 with You Got The Papers But I Got The Man. It was an answer to Betty Wright's I've Got The Papers On The Man. That got Jean touring again and she charted again in 1985 with her cover of Rockin' Sidney's My Toot Toot. Jean Knight last recorded in 1999 but she continues to tour the oldies circuit and performed Mr. Big Stuff on the 2003 PBS special Soul Comes Home. That's the video for today. She still sounds pretty good.
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