Clarence Clemons

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Lore & Background

Clemons met Bruce Springsteen in September 1971 at Asbury Park's Wonder Bar while playing with Norman Seldin & the Joyful Noyze. Though legends often recount a rainy night where a door flew off its hinges, Clemons recalled walking over to The Student Prince during a break, stating simply, "I want to play with your band." Springsteen agreed, and they immediately jammed on an early version of "Spirit in the Night," realizing instantly they were "the missing links in each other's lives." By late 1972, Clemons made his definitive debut with the formative E Street Band at venues like The Student Prince, well before The Stone Pony opened its doors in February 1974. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, his saxophone became essential to hits like "Born to Run," providing iconic solos on tracks such as "Thunder Road," "Jungleland," "Badlands," and "Bobby Jean." Springsteen often introduced him as "The Biggest Man You Ever Seen," a nod to both his imposing physical size and his outsized stage presence.

In Their Own Story

Clemons's musical journey extended far beyond the E Street Band. In 1985, he achieved a Top-20 hit with Jackson Browne on the duet "You're a Friend of Mine" and delivered a memorable saxophone performance on Aretha Franklin's "Freeway of Love." He also toured with Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band in 1989, singing his duet with Billy Preston. A deep friendship formed with Jerry Garcia in the late 1980s, leading to joint performances at New Year's Eve concerts and a summer solstice broadcast on June 21, 1989; one of these shows was later released as "Garcia Live Volume 13." In acting, Clemons appeared in films like "New York, New York" and "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure," and made cameo appearances in TV series including "The Simpsons," "Nash Bridges," and "The Wire." He published a semi-fictional autobiography, "Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales," with Don Reo in 2009.

Reader's Guide

Fans of Clarence Clemons can explore his diverse legacy through specific recordings that highlight his versatility. His solo work includes the 1985 duet with Jackson Browne and his instrumental album "Peacemaker." His guest appearances are essential listening, particularly on Aretha Franklin's "Freeway of Love" and the Grateful Dead tracks released in 2020. For those interested in his early life, his football career at Maryland State College alongside Art Shell and Emerson Boozer offers a glimpse into his athletic potential before a car crash ended his NFL aspirations just one day before a Cleveland Browns tryout. His induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame occurred posthumously in 2014 as part of The E Street Band, with his widow accepting on his behalf. He passed away at age 69 in West Palm Beach, Florida, on June 18, 2011.

Did You Know?

• Clemons was a football lineman at Maryland State College on a football scholarship; the story of a car crash preventing an NFL tryout with the Cleveland Browns is considered a myth unsupported by biographies like 'Big Ma
• He recorded his first studio session at age 18 with Tyrone Ashley's Funky Music Machine, featuring future Parliament-Funkadelic members Ray Davis, Eddie Hazel, and Billy Bass Nelson.
• In October 2010, Clemons published 'Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales,' a first-person autobiography written with his friend Don Reo.
• Clemons played on Aretha Franklin's 1985 hit 'Freeway of Love' and had a duet hit with Jackson Browne titled 'You're a Friend of Mine' that same year, which reached No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100.