Clarence Clemons RIP

THE BIG MAN IS GONE: Clarence Clemons passed away Saturday night at the age of 69. The cause was complications from his stroke of last Sunday, June 12, at his home in Singer Island, FL. Said Bruce Springsteen about his longtime bandmate: “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 opportunity to stand beside him for nearly 40 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.” Clemons is the second member of the E Street Band to die; organist Danny Federici succumbed to melanoma in April 2008. (6/19a)