Editing Jean Knight (section)

==Biography==
===Early years===
Jean Audrey Caliste was born in [[New Orleans, Louisiana]], on January 26, 1943.<ref name="nyt" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://1jeanknight.com/main.htm|title=Biography: The Official Jean Knight Website|accessdate=26 September 2021}}{{dead link|date=December 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name=YU>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6ZNfAQAAQBAJ&dq=Jean+Knight+January+26&pg=PA183|title=Blues: A Regional Experience|first1=Bob L.|last1=Eagle|first2=Eric S.|last2=LeBlanc|year=2013|isbn=9780313344244|page=183|publisher=Abc-Clio }}</ref><ref name=Bil>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UJYzAQAAIAAJ&q=Jean+Knight+January+26|title=The Billboard Book of One-hit Wonders|first=Wayne|last=Jancik|year=1998|isbn=9780823076222|publisher=Billboard Books|page=302}}</ref><ref name="LarkinSM"/> After graduating from [[high school]], she began singing at Laura's Place, her cousin's bar, and caught the attention of many different [[band (music)|bands]] who were willing to accompany her. In 1965, she [[sound recording and reproduction|recorded]] a [[demo (music)|demo]] of a [[cover version]] of [[Jackie Wilson]]'s song "Stop Doggin' Me Around".{{Citation needed|date=August 2007}} Her demo attracted record producer [[Huey Meaux]], who signed her to a recording contract at the Jet Star/Tribe record labels.<ref name="LarkinSM"/> 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 [[single (music)|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|Catholic]].<ref name="Higgins">{{Cite magazine |last=Higgins |first=Chester |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tDcDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA59|title=Jean Knight: New 'Big Stuff' of Show Biz |magazine=Jet |date=August 12, 1971 |publisher=Johnson Publishing Company |page=59 |language=en}}</ref>

===Success at Stax===
In early 1970, Knight was discovered by songwriter Ralph Williams, who wanted her to record some songs. With Williams' connections, Knight came in contact with record producer [[Wardell Quezergue]]. In May of that year, Knight went to [[Malaco Records|Malaco Studios]] in [[Jackson, Mississippi|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|No. 1]] [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B]] [[hit record|hit]] in early 1971, a producer at [[Stax Records]] remembered Knight's recording of "Mr. Big Stuff", and released it.<ref name="LarkinSM"/> The song also proved to be an instant smash in 1971, reaching No. 2 on the [[Popular music|pop]] [[record chart|chart]] and becoming a No. 1 R&B hit.<ref name="LarkinSM"/> It went [[music recording sales certification|double-platinum]] and received a [[Grammy Award|Grammy]] nomination for [[Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female]]; it lost to [[Aretha Franklin]]'s version of "[[Bridge Over Troubled Water (song)|Bridge Over Troubled Water]]". It sold over two million copies and was awarded a [[Music recording sales certification|gold disc]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|R.I.A.A]].<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book|first=Joseph|last=Murrells|year=1978|title=The Book of Golden Discs|edition=2nd|publisher=Barrie and Jenkins Ltd|location=London|page=[https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/296 296]|isbn=0-214-20512-6|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/296}}</ref> Knight performed the hit song on ''[[Soul Train]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/shows/soul-train/jean-knight-the-delfonics-maurice-jackson-ralphi-pagan-110071/|title=Soul Train - Season 1, Episode 11: Jean Knight/ The Delfonics/ Maurice Jackson/ Ralphi Pagan|publisher=TV.com|date=1971-12-11|access-date=2015-08-13|archive-date=April 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422122900/http://www.tv.com/shows/soul-train/jean-knight-the-delfonics-maurice-jackson-ralphi-pagan-110071/|url-status=dead}}</ref> An album of the same name proved to be fairly successful.<ref name="Huey"/> A couple more minor hits followed,<ref name="Huey"/> but disagreements with her producer and her label terminated Knight's involvement with Stax.{{cn|date=December 2023}}

===Later years===
After leaving Stax, Knight recorded songs for various small labels, but was not able to gain any more recognition,<ref name="LarkinSM"/> 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.<ref name="LarkinSM">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1993|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-733-9|page=153}}</ref> Soon, Knight found herself touring consistently. In 1985, Knight gained more recognition when she covered [[Rockin' Sidney]]'s [[zydeco]] [[Novelty song|novelty]] hit, "[[My Toot-Toot|My Toot Toot]]",<ref name="LarkinSM"/> 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 [[Billboard Hot 100|pop]] chart.<ref name="Awards"/> Knight was then given a chance to perform it on the TV [[variety show]] ''[[Solid Gold (TV series)|Solid Gold]]''. The song also became Knight's only hit in South Africa, reaching No. 3.<ref name="SA"/>

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 United States|Southern states]]. In 2003, Knight performed {{cspan|her biggest hit, "Mr. Big Stuff"|date=December 2023}}, 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.{{cn|date=December 2023}} Knight's song "Do Me" appeared on the 2007 ''[[Superbad]]'' [[Superbad (soundtrack)|soundtrack]].

===Personal life and death===
Knight was married at least twice and had at least one child.<ref name=Jet/> Knight married Thomas Commedore and together they had a son.<ref name=Jet/> In the early 1970s, she was married to New Orleans [[longshoreman]] Earl Harris.<ref name=Jet>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tDcDAAAAMBAJ&dq=Jean+Knight+singer&pg=PA59|magazine=[[Jet (magazine)|Jet]]|date=August 12, 1971|first=Chester|last=Higgins|title=Jean Knight: New 'Big Stuff' of Show Biz|pages=56–59|volume=40|issue=20|issn=0021-5996|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company}}</ref>

Knight died at a hospital in [[Tampa, Florida]], on November 22, 2023, at the age of 80.<ref name="nyt">{{cite web|title=Jean Knight, Who Struck Platinum With 'Mr. Big Stuff,' Dies at 80|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/28/arts/music/jean-knight-dead.html|last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=November 28, 2023|work=The New York Times|access-date=November 29, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tmz.com/2023/11/26/mr-big-stuff-singer-jean-knight-dead-dies/ |title= Jean Knight 'Mr. Big Stuff' Singer Dead at 80 |date=2023-11-26 |website=[[TMZ]] |access-date=2023-11-27}}</ref><ref name="Legaspi">{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jean-knight-mr-big-stuff-singer-dead-obit-1234897086/ | title=Jean Knight, 'Mr. Big Stuff' Singer, Dead at 80 |last=Legaspi |first=Althea |date=November 27, 2023 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=November 27, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Beaumont">{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/nov/27/jean-knight-soul-funk-singer-mr-big-stuff-dies-80 | title=Jean Knight, soul and funk singer who had hit with Mr Big Stuff, dies aged 80 |date=November 27, 2023| newspaper=The Guardian | last=Beaumont-Thomas | first=Ben |access-date=November 27, 2023}}</ref> Issuing a statement on her death her family said: "Beyond touring, recording studios, Ms. Knight loved cooking delicious [[Creole cuisine|Creole dishes]] for family and friends, celebrated [[Mardi Gras]] with several local krewes, and proudly served on the Louisiana Music Commission."<ref name="Walcott">{{cite magazine | url=https://people.com/jean-knight-mr-big-stuff-singer-dead-at-80-8406711 | title=Jean Knight, Legendary 'Mr. Big Stuff' Singer, Dead at 80 |last=Walcott |first=Escher |date=November 27, 2023 |magazine=People |access-date=November 27, 2023}}</ref>