JEAN KNIGHT - Mr Big Stuff

In 1965, twenty-two year old Jean Knight scored her first record deal, and she recorded her first four singles. The New Orleans native had changed her name for the recordings, feeling that her surname - Caliste - was too hard to pronounce. The singles only got attention locally, and Knight moved on to pursue a career as a baker. In 1970, songwriter Ralph Williams sought her out, wanting her to record some of his songs with producer Wardell Quezergue. Later that year, she travelled to Mississippi's Malaco Studios and she recorded what would be her biggest hit - Mr Big Stuff. The song was intended to be a ballad, but Knight suggested the song's tempo be changed. The recording was shopped around to many major record labels but there was zero interest. In 1971, another song that was recorded in the same recording session became a number one hit - King Floyd's Groove Me. (see HERE) A Stax Records producer remembered the Knight recording, which had a similar and distinctive arrangement from Quezergue, and released it. Mr Big Stuff instantly soared to the top of the charts, and became one of Stax Records biggest hits.