Jean Knight, soul and funk singer who had hit with Mr Big Stuff, dies aged 80

New Orleans singer reached No 2 in the US with 1971 hit, and was nominated for a Grammy

Jean Knight, whose irrepressibly funky and disdainful song Mr Big Stuff was a major hit in 1971, has died aged 80. Her publicist confirmed she died from natural causes, with her friend Bernie Cyrus, executive director of the Louisiana Music Commission, also confirming the news to Rolling Stone.

Knight was born Jean Caliste in New Orleans in 1943, and cut her first demo recording in 1965, a cover of Jackie Wilson's Stop Doggin' Me Around. She recorded a series of singles but her popularity initially didn't reach further than her local area, and she offset music with work as a baker. But sessions with producer Wardell Quezergue in 1970 yielded Mr Big Stuff, which turned around her fortunes.