Template:Short description Template:Sources Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox musical artist
Jean Audrey Knight (née Caliste; January 26, 1943 – November 22, 2023) was an American R&B and soul singer from New Orleans, Louisiana. Launching her professional career in the mid-1960s, Knight was best known for her 1971 hit single "Mr. Big Stuff", released by Stax Records.<ref name="Huey">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
BiographyEdit
Early yearsEdit
Jean Audrey Caliste was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 26, 1943.<ref name="nyt" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref name=YU>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=Bil>Template:Cite book</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 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".Template:Citation needed 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 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.<ref name="Higgins">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Success at StaxEdit
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 Studios 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 No. 1 R&B 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 pop chart and becoming a No. 1 R&B hit.<ref name="LarkinSM"/> It went double-platinum and received a Grammy 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.<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">Template:Cite book</ref> Knight performed the hit song on Soul Train.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</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.Template:Cn
Later yearsEdit
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">Template:Cite book</ref> Soon, Knight found herself touring consistently. In 1985, Knight gained more recognition when she covered Rockin' Sidney's zydeco novelty hit, "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 pop chart.<ref name="Awards"/> Knight was then 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.<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 states. In 2003, Knight performed Template:Cspan, 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.Template:Cn Knight's song "Do Me" appeared on the 2007 Superbad soundtrack.
Personal life and deathEdit
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>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Knight died at a hospital in Tampa, Florida, on November 22, 2023, at the age of 80.<ref name="nyt">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Legaspi">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="Beaumont">Template:Cite news</ref> Issuing a statement on her death her family said: "Beyond touring, recording studios, Ms. Knight loved cooking delicious Creole dishes for family and friends, celebrated Mardi Gras with several local krewes, and proudly served on the Louisiana Music Commission."<ref name="Walcott">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
DiscographyEdit
Studio albumsEdit
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | Record label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US <ref name="Awards"/> |
US R&B <ref name="Awards"/> | ||||
| 1971 | Mr. Big Stuff | 60 | 8 | Stax | |
| 1981 | Keep It Comin (with Premium) | ― | ― | Cotillion Records | |
| 1985 | My Toot Toot<ref name="LarkinSM"/> | 181 | ― | Mirage | |
| 1997 | Shaki de Boo-Tee | ― | ― | Ichiban Records | |
| 1999 | Queen | ― | ― | ComStar | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | |||||
Compilation albumsEdit
- 1997: The Very Best of Me
SinglesEdit
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot 100 <ref name="Awards">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
US R&B <ref name="Awards"/> |
AUS <ref name=aus>Template:Cite book</ref> |
South Africa <ref name="SA">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |||
| 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 alsoEdit
- 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
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- {{#if:|Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at Discogs|{{#if:Template:Wikidata|Template:Wikidata Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at DiscogsTemplate:EditAtWikidata|Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at Discogs}}}}
- Template:Imdb name
- Template:Usurped