Clarence Clemons, dugogodišnji saksofonist “E Street Banda”, prateće grupe Brucea Springsteena, umro je u 69. godini od posljedica moždanog udara. Mnogi su ga smatrali jednim od bitnijih kreatora zvuka grupe “E Street Band” i jednim od najlegendarnijih “glazbenika u sijeni” u povijesti rock’n’rolla. Odsvirao je nezaboravne sax solo dionice na Springsteenovim najvećim hitovima; “Born to Run”, “Thunder Road”, “Badlands” i “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out”.
Sin baptističkog svećenika, Clemons je rođen u Norfolku, Virginia, 1942. godine. Nakon pohađanja Maryland State Collegea za glazbu i korištenja stipendije za igranje američkog nogometa, posvetio se u potpunosti glazbi svirajuči u New Jersey Shore klubu sve dok se nije priključio Springsteenu.
Izvan rada s “E Street Bandom”, Clemenons je nastupao uživo s grupom Grateful Dead i Ringom Starrom, nastupio u pop hitovima Arethe Franklin (“Freeway of Love”) i Jacksona Brownea (“You’re a Friend of Mine”). Objavljivao je i solo albume “Hero” (1985.), “A Night With Mr. C” (1989.) i “Pacemaker” (1995).
Posljednju suradnju s drugim glazbenicima je imao s Lady Gaga na njezinom zadnjem albumu “Born This Way”, gdje je svirao u dvije kompozicije, a s njom je imao i posljednji live nastup u emisiji “Američki idol” u svibnju ove godine.
Povodom njegove smrti, Bruce Springsteen je dao slijedeću izjavu: “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 oppurtunity 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.”
Pogledajte dva Springsteenova velika hita u kojima Clemons ima karakteristične dionice sviranja na saksofonu:
Bruce Springsteen i E Street Band, “Rosalita”
Bruce Springsteen i E Street Band, “Born to Run”
