Clarence Clemons Dies, an 'Immeasurable' Loss Says Bruce Springsteen

By Marc Schneider Posted Jun 18th 2011 09:07PM

He was the "Big Man" that Bruce Springsteen leaned on, both figuratively and literally, to provide the soul and heart of the legendary E Street Band. Now, that light has gone out. Clarence Clemons, the larger-than-life sax man in the world's greatest backing band, died Saturday of complications from a stroke suffered last week, a spokesman said. He was 69.

Clemons and Springsteen have been tethered together for 40 years, starting with a mythical rainy night in Asbury Park in 1971 when the horn player sat in with the unknown and struggling songwriter at a local bar. He was soon in Springsteen's backing band and was a part of his debut, 'Greetings From Asbury Park.'

Springsteen released a statement on his website following his friend's death:

"Clarence lived a wonderful life. He carried within him a love of people that made them love him. He created a wondrous and extended family. He loved the saxophone, loved our fans and gave everything he had every night he stepped on stage. His loss is immeasurable and we are honored and thankful to have known him and had the opportunity to stand beside him for nearly forty years. He was my great friend, my partner, and with Clarence at my side, my band and I were able to tell a story far deeper than those simply contained in our music. His life, his memory, and his love will live on in that story and in our band."

In the E Street Band, his horn playing was an essential part of the scrappy yet huge sound on records like 'Thunder Road' and 'Jungleland.' It's Clemons who 'The Boss' leans on on the cover of perhaps his most iconic album, 'Born to Run' and he raved about the artwork in Clemons' memoir, 'Big Man: Real Life and Tall Tales.'

"When you open it up and see Clarence and me together, the album begins to work its magic," Springsteen wrote. "Who are these guys? Where did they come from? What is the joke they are sharing? A friendship and a narrative steeped in the complicated history of America begins to work and there is music already in the air."

And while guitarist Steven Van Zandt gets to cozy up with Springsteen night after night, trading backing vocals during their marathon concerts, it's always Clemons who has been introduced last by the E Street Band's boss.

That level of respect has been shared by E Street devotees for decades.

Clemons did not depend solely on Springsteen, though, and scored a hit of his own alongside Jackson Browne with 1985's 'You're a Friend of Mine.' He also did a bit of acting in the 1980s, on TV in 'Diff'rent Strokes' and films like 'Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.'

Fans of the gritty HBO drama 'The Wire' will remember his 2-episode stint as Roman.

In 1989, about 17 years into his tenure in E Street, Springsteen called and informed Clemons he was breaking up the band. He was on tour with Ringo Starr at the time and Clemons said the Beatle looked on with concern, believing the saxophonist was being told about a death.

"[Springsteen] said he wanted to try something new, do something different," Clemons explained in the Phoenix Gazette. "It was quite a shock; you go through all the emotions of a divorce, all the emotions, instantly. I didn't say much to him. I just said, 'Good luck.' But before long I started to see the good side."

Ten years later, Springsteen reformed the band and they've produced some of their most inspired work in their history, including the post-9/11 'The Rising' and 2007's rollicking 'Magic.'

Clemons is the second member of the band to pass away in recent years. In 2008, organ and accordionist Danny Federici lost a fight with melanoma, a type of skin cancer.

While he allowed fans into his world as a musician, Clemons didn't speak much about his personal life. The Norfolk, Virginia native was married five times in his lifetime and is survived by four sons, Clarence III, Charles, Christopher and Jarod.

Tags: Bruce Springsteen, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Clarence Clemons

Comments

(89)

Saturday 18 June

By MARIE

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So sad. Clarence was a big part of the music I loved in the 80's. RIP brother!

By desertskys

Oh I'm so sorry to hear of this news! What a presence he had on stage, gave me goosebumps when he played his sax. Sincere condolences to the E street band , his family and fans.
RIP

By erik

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will be sorely missed rip!

By doug miller

Rest In Peace

By the_fool

I saw him in Ringo Starr's All Star Band. I was impressed by his playing right away. Sorry to hear this sad news. Rest in peace.

By montana

RIP CC . Happy Fathers Day from all your 70's and 80's kids who rocked with you guys . God Bless !!!!

By matthej1

RIP Clarence. Had the honor of seeing you w/Bruce and the other E Streeters many many times. May God bless your family, Bruce and the rest of the E Street Band. By now you & Danny are rockin it out up in heaven.

By Dana

This is so sad and unexpected. Expected the Big Man to rally and recover. Rest In Peace, Clarence, you are already greatly missed.

By pat

Geez,... can't believe he's gone. His sax playing was phenomenal! Bruce had better eulogize him with a rocking tribute.

By lorraine capua

so sad......rest in peace clarence.

By Ed

Big Big Loss R.I.P Big Man you will be forever missed!

By Peter

We lost a Great Man and Sax Player Today, what a shame, Rip Big Man

By Ida

RIP Clarence ..

By ei mad

Heaven just got a whole lot cooler!

By SgtJoeFriday

Going to a Bruce Springsteen concert will never be the same again. Clarence was mean on the sax. R.I.P. Clarence.

By John

"Hey Clarence, Clarence. You been good and practicin' real hard? Yeah? So Santa'll bring ya a new saxaphone, right?"
BEST Christmas song of all time!
Clarence, we already miss you and you will never be forgotten.

By IMissTheBannerPlane

John ... you're the best... thanx for the : )

Clarence's solo was a joy at every concert. The cheer for "The Big Man " never disappointed ( did you hear me cheer Clarence ? Sure ya' did ). If you dudes never saw a Bruce concert/ Clarence and his sax.. check out "Jungleland " ... as for the Jersey Girls/Dudes ...Lets do the " Born To Run ".. da da da dada da da da dada da da da dadadada..da da da dada da da dadada Da Da Dada Da da DaDa ( You know what I'm talkin' about )

By MARSHA

You will be missed, expecially for being so groundbreaking and bridge builder between the races. You were a strong soldier in the army, and I will expecially miss your gold manicure! Think I'm gonna get at least one fingernail painted gold in your memory! Again, you will be missed!

Rock on Big Guy, Rock On!

By htcorner23

I was actually a bigger fan of Clemons than I am of Springsteen. He'll be missed.

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