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)

Sunday 19 June

By JoleneCee

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When was the last time Bruce Springsteen was relevent, yes thats right 30 years ago and one album! RIP Clarence.

By Bev

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Very sad day, huge fan. R.I.P. Clarence, you will never be replaced but hopefully the E Street will go on in your memory.

By kingfish

Isn't this the same guy who recorded "I be Strokin'." Go figure.

Monday 20 June

By mumbuzz

no it wasn't Clarence Clemons who did strokin, it was Clarence Carter
RIP big man, your sax sounds will live on forever!
Bruce & the band always managed to "take it to church" in every show, with Clarence leadin the charge with that great presence & his mastery of the saxophone. Other blues rocker called on home, thanks for sharing your talents with the rest of us, we will never be the same thanks to you! Peace

By Renee

What happened? I spoke to Clarence two days befor his surgery and he sounded fine. He was in good spirits, I will miss our talks.

By liz

Clarence Clemons was more than just a ''sidekick'' much more . Clarence Clemons was Bruce Springsteens Strong Right arm . A virtuoso musician who gave power and ambience to Springsteen's music and master songwriting . He gave Bruce Springsteen's music such high style . He is irreplaceable . He is priceless . You cannot place a value on all his contributions . God will now have the coolest horn player in heaven . God rest you , Clarence . You will be missed .

By eyedocandynj50

I USE TO HANG OUT WITH CLARENCE WHEN HE HAD A PLACE NEXT TO THE TRADEWINDS. BOY THOSE WERE THE DAYS .....SO MANY HOT CHICKS THERE..SOMETIMES IT WAS A BIG SEX ORGY

By Big D

Be at peace Big Man. God must have needed that sweet music of yours in heaven.

By Melinda

Huge HUGE loss!!! RIP Clarance!!! Been listening to him since don't know when...but a very very long time!!! E-Street band will have enormous shoes to fill...but I do know they will go on...for Clarance...he would want it that way. God Bless...and my heart is heavy for all his family, music and otherwise, his many many friends and for the fans.

By John

Another gifted man, musician gone. What a terrible loss.

By Ms. Springsteen

I have lived my life with Bruce and The "E" Street Band, seeing them 17 times in concert over the last 35 years. With great sadness I shall never watch "The Big Man" perform again.

God bless you, Clarence for all the love and inspiration you gave this world.

By Tom

RIP Big Man....

Meet me in the land of hope and dreams

By Connie

I've been a fan of Bruce & the E Street Band a really long time--since the 70's. So sorry to hear about losing a music LEGEND. I will never forget what they have represented to me--a little piece of my youth and being a part of a rock-n-roll era! Love ya, Bruce! RIP, BIG MAN!

By simpsonsimpmike

Sad news about a great man

By James

Rest in Peace Clarence. You were a true musician. You will be missed tremendously

By Orlando Cepeda

A great big loss to music. R.I.P. BIGMAN.

By brendabvb

RIP Clarence. You will be playing beautiful music up in heaven.

By Jake

THE BIG MAN WILL BE MISSED. FROM Y=THE JERSY TURNPIKE, TO THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY, FROM THE STONE PONY TO THE CAPITAL THEATER TO GIANT STADIUM I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SEE THE BIG MAN AND THE E STREET BAND ALLL OVER NJ AND THE COUNTRY. THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT MEMORIES YOU WILL BE MISSED YOUR LEGEND WILL LIVE ON FOREVER. WITH TERAS IN MY EYE WE ALL SALUTE YOU BIG MAN. GOD BLESS AND RIP!!!!

By jorczak9

We'll sure miss ya Clarence. RIP.

By Bill Sellers

I saw the E Street Band in 1980 and again in 2001 when they reformed. A Bruce show is like a "Tent Revival", and when Clarence would do his solo on "Jungleland," "Badlands," or cut loose on "Rosalita" it would send shivers up my spine. I hope Bruce will retire the name in respect to him, and not go on using the name like Daltrey & Townsend do with half the band gone.

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