( Bruce Springsteen’s ) E-Street Band sax player Clarence Clemons dies aged 69.
My Facebook and twitter timeline is also full of tributes from my musician/ music lover friends. The musician had been in hospital since suffering a stroke at his Florida home weekend June 11-12th, and passed away on Saturday 18th June a spokesman confirmed to BBC news.
Known as the ‘Big Man’, Clemons saxophone played a key part in defining songs like ‘Born to run’ and ‘Thunder road’. More recently he played on Lady Gaga’s ‘Born this way’ and performed as part of Gaga’s band on American Idol. His last performance with the E Street Band was December 2010.
Virginia-born Clemons began playing saxophone at the age of 9 when he got the instrument at Christmas. “I wanted an electric train for Christmas, but he (Dad) got me a saxophone. I totally flipped out” he told the Associated Press news agency during a 1989 interview.
Also dabbling in the acting world. Clarence appeared in movies and on TV, making his debut in Martin Scorseses 1977 musical ‘New York New York’ in which he played a trumpet player. He also played one of ‘the three most important people in the world’ in the 1989 movie (a favourite of mine) Bill and Teds Excellent Adventure. He also provided his voice in a Simpsons episode amongst other appearances.
On October 2009 Little Kids Rock, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring and revitalising music education in public schools presented Clemons with the inaugural “Big man of the year award” at the ‘Right to Rock’ charity benefit. He helped raise money to put musical instruments and curriculum into underfunded public schools across the country.
He was a man who’s actions spoke louder than words…..
Tributes have come pouring in for a man who’s saxophone, rather than the big man himself, took front and centre. Many won’t have known his name, but they knew his solos.
Commisserations to his family and friends. In the music world, he will be sadly missed.
www.ClarenceClemons.com
www.rollingstone.com/music/news
Soapgirl
