Soul singer Jean Knight was married to her husband Earl Harris following her divorce from her ex-spouse Thomas Commodore whom she had son, Emile, with. Details.
The world learned about the death of American R&B and soul singer Jean Knight, whose irrepressibly funky and disdainful song Mr Big Stuff was a major hit in 1971, in November 2023.
The prolific entertainer and New Orleans native had a music career that spanned over 50 years and had countless hit songs under her belt.
While the music lovers mourn the loss of the iconic musician, many want to know more about her family, especially, the children and husband she’s leaving behind. Here’s everything we know about her persona; life.
Who was singer Jean Knight married to?
Jean Knight, the chart-topping songstress behind ’70s hits like “Mr. Big Stuff” and “Think It Over,” was married twice in her lifetime.
Her first marriage was to Thomas Commodore.
The couple’s love story, including how they met, when they tied the knot, and how long they were together, was never documented online because Knight’s personal life is largely unknown to the public.
The former couple’s marriage ended but it is unclear when she and Thomas split up.
While the singer did not open up about her love life, her remarrying gave a hint of her first divorce.
She later married her second spouse, Earl Harris, in the early 1970s.
Did Mr. Big Stuff singer Jean Knight have any children?
Former baker-turned-singer Jean Knight was a mother before she died in November 2023.
She had one child, a son named Emile Commodore.
She shared her son with her first husband, Thomas Commodore.
Currently, there is no information about her son, who also seems to live a private life just like his late mother.
Who was Jean Knight?
Knight was most prolifically known for her hit “Mr. Big Stuff,” which is featured in the Stax Musem’s opening documentary.
She found her start singing in her cousin’s bar, Laura’s Place, post-high school graduation.
Her voice caught the attention of multiple bands who wished to accompany her vocals.
After covering Jackie Wilson’s Stop Doggin’ Me Around in 1965 for a demo, she signed a contract with Jet Star/Tribe record labels and adopted her stage name of Jean Knight, dropping her given surname Caliste.
Her musical career stalled by the late 1960s and she worked as a baker for a time before releasing Mr. Big Stuff under songwriter Ralph Williams.
Only a year following the release, Stax Records picked up the song and released it as an instant success.
The song reached number two on the pop charts and number one in R&B.
Knight’s song went platinum and she was Grammy nominated for Best R&B Vocal Performance in the female category, narrowly losing to Aretha Franklin.
She later signed to Soulin’s label in 1981 and by 1985 was touring consistently and still releasing hits like You Got the Papers but I Got the Man and a cover of My Toot Toot.
In 2003, Knight returned to her old label’s museum grand opening to perform her biggest hit, “Mr. Big Stuff”, on the PBS special Soul Comes Home.
What was Jean Knight’s cause of death?
On Sunday, November 26, 2023, TMZ reported that the famous soul singer had passed away.
They attributed this report to a press release that had been circulating X, formerly Twitter, over the last week.
The press release states that the singer passed away on Wednesday, November 22, 2023.
It is currently unknown whether the singer died from natural causes, or for other reasons, like a recent illness.
Knight was 80 years old at the time of her passing.
Tributes quickly poured in on social media as fans mourned the famous singer.
The press release also asked for the public’s privacy.
“The family of Jean Knight kindly requests privacy during this difficult time and expresses heartfelt gratitude for the love and support from fans.”
At this time, no public funeral arrangements have been made or publicized.