Jean Knight, the R&B singer best known for her 1971 hit “Mr. Big Stuff” died at 80 on Wednesday (Nov. 22). “New Orleans and the music world mourns the loss of one its most treasure musical daughters, Jean Knight,” her family said in a statement shared with USA Today.
Rolling Stone also confirmed the singer’s passing with longtime friend Bernie Cyrus — who was the executive director of the Louisiana Music Commission for decades — who said, “She was always willing to get involved with good causes and help out.”
Cyrus said the bouncy soul-stirring song was “just so universal. People…