Clarence Clemons, the big man who stood by Bruce Springsteen’s side on stage for nearly forty years, has died of complications of a stroke he suffered less than a week ago. He was 69.
Clemons’ tenor sax was the centerpiece of The E Street Band. My favorite solo of his was on “Jungleland”, the closing track on Springsteen’s classic 1975 album Born To Run. Clemons was also a good vocalist in his own right. I remember a duet Clemons did with Jackson Browne in 1985 called “You’re a Friend of Mine” which featured Browne’s then-girlfriend Daryl Hannah singing back up vocals.
Clemons went from Born to Run to Born This Way when he collaborated with Lady Gaga on her song “The Edge of Glory.” After Clemons suffered his stroke, Gaga made a get well soon video with a little help from her little monsters. Now that was a mitzvah.
