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Clarence Clemons - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Clarence Clemons

Background information
Also known as The Big Man
Born

January 11, 1942(1942-01-11)

Norfolk, Virginia[1]
Died June 18, 2011(2011-06-18) (aged 69)
Palm Beach, Florida
Genres Rock, R&B
Instruments Saxophone
percussion
vocalist
Associated acts E Street Band
Bruce Springsteen
Aretha Franklin
Jackson Browne
Narada Michael Walden
Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band
Aja Kim
Lady Gaga
Website www.clarenceclemons.com
Notable instruments
Julius Keilwerth SX90R tenor saxophone, SX90R baritone saxophone and SX90II soprano saxophone[2]

Clarence Anicholas Clemons, Jr. (January 11, 1942 – June 18, 2011), also known as The Big Man, was an American musician and actor. From 1972 until his death, he was a prominent member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, playing the saxophone. He released several solo albums and in 1985 had a hit single with "You're a Friend of Mine", a duet with Jackson Browne. As a guest musician he also featured on Aretha Franklin's classic "Freeway of Love" and on Twisted Sister's "Be Chrool to Your Scuel" as well as performing in concert with The Grateful Dead and Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band. As an actor Clemons featured in several films, including New York, New York and Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. He also made cameo appearances in several TV series, including Diff'rent Strokes, Nash Bridges, The Simpsons and The Wire. Together with his television writer friend Don Reo he published his autobiography, Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales, in 2009.[3] Clemons suffered a stroke on June 12, 2011 and died due to complications from the stroke on June 18.[4]

Contents

[hide]

[edit] Early years

Clemons was the son of Clarence Clemons, Sr., a fish market owner, and his wife Thelma.[5][6] He was the oldest of their three children. His grandfather was a Southern Baptist preacher and, as a result, the young Clemons grew up listening to gospel music. When he was nine, his father gave him an alto saxophone as a Christmas present and paid for music lessons. He later switched to baritone saxophone and played in a high school jazz band. His uncle also influenced his early musical development when he bought him his first King Curtis album. Curtis, and his work with The Coasters in particular, would be become a major influence on Clemons and led to him switching to tenor saxophone. As a youth Clemons also showed potential as a football player, and he attended Maryland State College on both music and football scholarships. He played as a lineman on the same team as Emerson Boozer and attracted the attention of the Cleveland Browns, who offered him a trial. However, the day before he was involved in a serious car accident which effectively ended any plans of a career in the NFL.[7][8][9][10] At age 18, Clemons had one of his earliest studio experiences, recording sessions with Tyrone Ashley's Funky Music Machine, a band from Plainfield, New Jersey that included Ray Davis, Eddie Hazel and Billy Bass Nelson, all of whom later played with Parliament-Funkadelic. He also performed with Daniel Petraitis, a New Jersey and Nashville legend. These sessions were eventually released in 2007 by Truth and Soul Records as Let Me Be Your Man.[11][12] While at Maryland State College Clemons also joined his first band, The Vibratones, which played James Brown covers and stayed together for about four years between 1961 and 1965. While still playing with this band he moved to Newark, New Jersey where he worked as a counselor for emotionally disturbed children at the Jamesburg Training School for Boys between 1962 and 1970.

[edit] Bruce Springsteen

Clemons stage front with the E Street Band, playing his famous "Jungleland" saxophone solo. Nassau Coliseum, March 10, 2008.

Clemons playing his "Born to Run" saxophone solo with house lights up. Hartford Civic Center, April 24, 2009.

Clemons playing his saxophone part on "Night" early in a show. Estadio José Zorrilla, Valladolid, Spain, August 1, 2009.

The story of how Clemons first met Bruce Springsteen has entered into E Street Band folklore. In concerts Springsteen would introduce "The E Street Shuffle" with a monologue about how they met and the event was also immortalized in "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out". They allegedly met for the first time in September 1971. At the time Clemons was playing with Norman Seldin & The Joyful Noyze at The Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Seldin was a Jersey Shore musician/entrepreneur who, as well as playing piano and leading various bands, had his own record label, Selsom Records. In 1969 Clemons had recorded an eponymous album with this band. In 2008 tracks from this album were reissued on an anthology, Asbury Park — Then And Now, put together by Seldin. It was Karen Cassidy, lead vocalist with The Joyful Noyze, who encouraged Clemons to check out Springsteen who was playing with The Bruce Springsteen Band at the nearby Student Prince.[13][14][15] Clemons has recalled their meeting in various interviews.[16]

One night we were playing in Asbury Park. I'd heard The Bruce Springsteen Band was nearby at a club called The Student Prince and on a break between sets I walked over there. On-stage, Bruce used to tell different versions of this story but I'm a Baptist, remember, so this is the truth. A rainy, windy night it was, and when I opened the door the whole thing flew off its hinges and blew away down the street. The band were on-stage, but staring at me framed in the doorway. And maybe that did make Bruce a little nervous because I just said, "I want to play with your band," and he said, "Sure, you do anything you want." The first song we did was an early version of "Spirit In The Night". Bruce and I looked at each other and didn't say anything, we just knew. We knew we were the missing links in each other's lives. He was what I'd been searching for. In one way he was just a scrawny little kid. But he was a visionary. He wanted to follow his dream. So from then on I was part of history.

Well before this meeting, however, Clemons and Springsteen had moved within the same circle of musical acquaintances. Norman Seldin had managed and promoted several local bands, including The Motifs[17] who featured Vinnie Roslin, later to play with Springsteen in Steel Mill. On April 22, 1966 Seldin had also organised a battle of the bands competition at the Matawan-Keyport Roller Drome in Matawan, New Jersey. Springsteen was among the entrants playing with his then band, The Castiles.[18] Billy Ryan, who played lead guitar with The Joyful Noyze,[19] also played in The Jaywalkers with Garry Tallent and Steve Van Zandt and Clemons himself had played with Tallent in Little Melvin & The Invaders.[20]

In July 1972, Springsteen began recording his debut album Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. and during breaks from recording, he jammed with Clemons and The Joyful Noyze on at least two occasions at The Shipbottom Lounge in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. When Springsteen then decided to use a tenor saxophone on the songs "Blinded By The Light" and "Spirit In The Night" it was Clemons he called. By October Springsteen was ready to tour and promote Greetings… and he put together a band featuring Clemons, Tallent, Danny Federici and Vini Lopez. Clemons played his last gig with Norman Seldin & The Joyful Noyze at the Club Plaza in Bayville, New Jersey on October 21, 1972. Four days later Clemons made his debut with the formative E Street Band at an unadvertised, impromptu performance at The Shipbottom Lounge.[21][22] Throughout the 1970s and 1980s Clemons featured prominently on Springsteen albums. On Born to Run he provided memorable saxophone solos on the title track, "Thunder Road" and "Jungleland" while Darkness on the Edge of Town featured another notable solo on "Badlands". The River saw Clemons feature on songs such as "The Ties That Bind", "Sherry Darling", "I Wanna Marry You" and "Independence Day" while Born in the U.S.A. saw solos on "Bobby Jean" and "I'm Goin' Down".[23][24]

At the end of shows, while recognizing members of the E Street Band, Springsteen referred to Clemons as "The Biggest Man You Ever Seen". He sometimes changed this depending on where the E Street Band performs — at their 2009 concert in Glasgow he introduced Clemons as "the biggest Scotsman you've ever seen".

[edit] Solo career

Outside of his work with the E Street Band, Clemons recorded with many other artists and had a number of musical projects on his own. The best known of these are his 1985 vocal duet with Jackson Browne on the hit single "You're a Friend of Mine", and his saxophone work on Aretha Franklin's 1985 hit single "Freeway of Love". He was managed briefly in the 1980s by former Crawdaddy editor Peter Knobler, whose wedding Clemons played with his band, Clarence Clemons & the Red Bank Rockers. In the mid-1990s, he recorded a Japan-only CD release called Aja and the Big Man "Get It On" (on the now-defunct Dream Train Records) with singer/songwriter Aja Kim (formerly of the tribute band The Iron Maidens). In the 2000s Clemons worked with a group called The Temple of Soul, and he also recorded with philanthropic teen band Creation. During the 1980s Clemons owned a Red Bank, New Jersey nightclub called Big Man's West. Clemons collaborated with Lady Gaga on the song "Hair", "The Edge of Glory" and "Highway Unicorn (Road To Love)" from her album Born This Way, providing a saxophone track and solo.[25] Clarence Clemons occasionally sat in with the Grateful Dead, after keyboard player Brent Midland passed away in 1990, until the band permanently replaced Brent with former Tubes member, Vince Welnick.

[edit] Acting career

Clemons appeared in movies and on television making his debut in Martin Scorsese's 1977 musical, New York, New York in which he played a trumpet player. He played one of the Three Most Important People In The World in the 1989 film Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. In 1985, Clemons was a special guest star in Diff'rent Strokes episode "So You Want to Be a Rock Star", in which he played the role of Mr. Kingsley, a young saxophonist helping Arnold Jackson to learn to play his sax. He has also been a guest voice in an episode of The Simpsons. In 1990, he co-starred in the pilot episode of Human Target, a Rick Springfield action series intended for ABC.[26] He also played the role of Jack in Swing starring opposite Lisa Stansfield and Hugo Speer, directed by Nick Mead. He appeared alongside Michael McKean and David Bowe as a miner in one episode of musician "Weird Al" Yankovic's children's television show The Weird Al Show. He appeared in an episode of Damon Wayans' television show, My Wife And Kids as a musician and performed an original composition, co written with bassist, Lynn Woolever, called "One Shadow In The Sun". Clemons twice appeared as a Baltimore youth-program organizer in HBO's crime drama The Wire.[27][28] He appeared in an episode of the Brothers and in the "Eddie's Book" episode of 'Til Death as himself.

[edit] Personal

Clemons was married five times. He fathered four sons, Clarence III, Charles, Christopher and Jarod.[29] He was legally blind in one eye. Clemons stated "It's not something you can replace. If it goes out, that's it."[30]

[edit] Philanthropy

On October 22, 2009, Little Kids Rock, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring and revitalizing 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 also performed "Jailhouse Rock" with a student band from the Bronx, in addition to a number with legendary producer, John Colby.

[edit] Death

Clemons suffered a stroke on June 12, 2011. He underwent two surgeries after which he was in serious, but stable condition.[31] According to Rolling Stone Magazine, he had been showing signs of recovery[32]. However, Clemons died from complications caused by the stroke on June 18.[4]

[edit] Discography

  • Clarence Clemons & the Red Bank Rockers
    • Rescue (1983)
  • Clarence Clemons
    • Hero (1985)
    • A Night With Mr. C (1989)
    • Peacemaker (1995)
  • Aja and the Big Man
    • Get It On (1995)
  • Clarence Clemons & Temple of Soul
    • Live in Asbury Park (2002)
    • Live in Asbury Park, Vol. II (2004)
    • Brothers in Arms (2008)

[edit] Filmography

[33][34]

[edit] Film

[edit] Television

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Clarence Clemons dies at 69; saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-06-19.
  2. ^ Clemons | Sonaré
  3. ^ Billboard, http://www.billboard.com/news/clarence-clemons-tells-springsteen-tales-1004022631.story#/news/clarence-clemons-tells-springsteen-tales-1004022631.story
  4. ^ a b Greene, Andy (June 18, 2011). "E Street Band's Clarence Clemons Dies at 69". http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/e-street-bands-clarence-clemons-dies-at-69-20110618. Retrieved June 18, 2011. 
  5. ^ Staff report (May 25, 1995). Death notice: Clarence A Clemons Sr. The Virginian-Pilot
  6. ^ Carpenter, Brown (February 24, 2006). Local teacher was an active participant in desegregation. The Virginian-Pilot
  7. ^ www.norfolk.gov
  8. ^ Saxophone player set for Super show
  9. ^ Backstreets #17 Summer 1986
  10. ^ Marsh, Dave (1981). Born to Run: The Bruce Springsteen Story. p. 277. ISBN 0-440-10694-X. 
  11. ^ Truth & Soul, Digging in Music History
  12. ^ www.truthandsoulrecords.com
  13. ^ Brucebase 1970–71
  14. ^ www.normanseldin.com
  15. ^ Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out lyrics
  16. ^ French Springsteen fansite
  17. ^ The Motifs
  18. ^ www.soundsofasburypark.com
  19. ^ Backstreets #31 Winter 1990
  20. ^ Garry Tallent family tree
  21. ^ Brucebase 1972
  22. ^ Brucebase, On The Tracks: Greetings sessions
  23. ^ Clarence Clemons fansite
  24. ^ www.vh1.com
  25. ^ By Andy Greene (2011-02-18). "Exclusive: How E Street Band Saxophonist Clarence Clemons Ended Up on Lady Gaga's New Album | Rolling Stone Music". Rollingstone.com. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/exclusive-how-e-street-band-saxophonist-clarence-clemons-ended-up-on-lady-gagas-new-album-20110218. Retrieved 2011-05-14. 
  26. ^ "Clemons looks for new Boss". Star-News: p. 2D. July 8, 1990. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qbUsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ABQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7169,3110078&dq=human-target+springfield&hl=en. 
  27. ^ "The Wire" Moral Midgetry (2004) - Full cast and crew
  28. ^ "The Wire" Hamsterdam (2004) - Full cast and crew
  29. ^ Sisario, Ben (June 18, 2011). Clarence Clemons, E Street Band Saxophonist, Dies at 69. New York Times
  30. ^ Morgan, John; Health, Spotlight (March 13, 2003). "Clarence Clemons recovers from detached retina". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlighthealth/2003-03-13-clemons_x.htm. Retrieved April 30, 2010. 
  31. ^ "Clarence Clemons Suffers From A Stroke". http://khitschicago.radio.com/2011/06/13/clarence-clemons-suffers-from-a-stroke/. 
  32. ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/clarence-clemons-reportedly-showing-signs-of-recovery-20110613
  33. ^ Clarence Clemons at the Internet Movie Database
  34. ^ http://bigmanclemons.com/tvfilm.htm

[edit] External links

[show]v · d · eBruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Bruce Springsteen · Roy Bittan · Nils Lofgren · Patti Scialfa · Garry Tallent · Steven Van Zandt · Max Weinberg
Soozie Tyrell · Charles Giordano
Former members: Ernest "Boom" Carter · Clarence "Big Man" Clemons · Danny Federici · Suki Lahav · Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez · David Sancious
Studio albums
Live albums
Other albums

Greatest Hits (1995) · Blood Brothers (EP) (1996) · Tracks (1998) · 18 Tracks (1999) · The Essential Bruce Springsteen (2003) · Greatest Hits (2009)
Singles
"Blinded by the Light" (1973) · "Spirit in the Night" (1973) · "Born to Run" (1975) · "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" (1976) · "Prove It All Night" (1978) · "Badlands" (1978) · "The Promised Land" (1978) · "Hungry Heart" (1980) · "Fade Away" (1981) · "Sherry Darling" (1981) · "The River" (1981) · "Cadillac Ranch" (1981) · "Atlantic City" (1982) · "Open All Night" (1982) · "Dancing in the Dark" (1984) · "Cover Me" (1984) · "Born in the U.S.A." (1984) · "I'm on Fire" (1985) · "Glory Days" (1985) · "I'm Goin' Down" (1985) · "My Hometown" (1985) · "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" (1985) · "War" (1986)  · "Fire" (1987) · "Born to Run" (live) (1988) · "Brilliant Disguise" (1987) · "Tunnel of Love" (1987) · "One Step Up" (1988) · "Tougher Than the Rest" (1988) · "Spare Parts" (1988) · "Human Touch" (1992) · "57 Channels (And Nothin' On)" (1992) · "Better Days" (1992) · "Leap of Faith" (1992) · "Lucky Town" (1993) · "Streets of Philadelphia" (1994) · "Secret Garden" (1995) · "Murder Incorporated" (1995) · "Hungry Heart" (re-issue) (1995) · "The Ghost of Tom Joad" (1996) · "Secret Garden" (1997) · "Sad Eyes" (1999) · "The Rising" (2002) · "Lonesome Day" (2002) · "Waitin' on a Sunny Day" (2003) · "Devils & Dust" (2005) · "All the Way Home" (2005) · "Radio Nowhere" (2007) · "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" (2007) · "Working on a Dream" (2008) · "My Lucky Day" (2008) · "The Wrestler" (2009)
Video releases
Tours

Born to Run tours (1974–77) · Darkness Tour (1978) · River Tour (1980–81) · Born in the U.S.A. Tour (1984–85) · Tunnel of Love Express (1988) · Human Rights Now! (1988) · "Other Band" Tour (1992–93) · Ghost of Tom Joad Tour (1995–97) · Reunion Tour (1999–2000) · Rising Tour (2002–03) · Vote for Change (2004) · Devils & Dust Tour (2005) · Seeger Sessions Band Tour (2006) · Magic Tour (2007–08) · Working on a Dream Tour (2009)
Related articles
Wikipedia book Book:Bruce Springsteen


Persondata
Name Clemons, Clarence
Alternative names Big Man
Short description Saxophonist for The E Street Band
Date of birth 1942-01-11
Place of birth Norfolk, Virginia, United States
Date of death 2011-06-18
Place of death Palm Beach, Florida, United States

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