(AP) — Jean Knight, a New Orleans born soul singer known for her 1971 hit “Mr. Family, friends, fans and veterans of the music world mourned the loss of the Grammy-nominated singer who was considered a musical powerhouse and an integral part of New Orleans' music legacy. Knight died Wednesday of natural causes in Tampa, Florida, where she was residing, said family representative Mona Giamanco. The Stax Museum of American Soul Music said in a news release that Knight was Stax Records' top-selling female artist. Big Stuff” Knight went on to record several more albums — including ones that featured songs “(Don’t Mess With) My Toot Toot” and “Bill" — and former her own label, Comstar.

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Persons: — Jean Knight, ”, Knight, Mona Giamanco, “ Jean Knight's, “ Mr, Bill, —, Reginald Toussaint, Allen Toussaint —, Toussaint Organizations: Associated Press, Stax Museum, American, Music, Stax Records, New Orleans Jazz Locations: BATON ROUGE, La, New Orleans, Tampa , Florida, Mardi Gras