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Who is Clarence Clemons

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Clarence Clemons - the "BIG MAN"

Clarence Clemons is the saxophonist who has played saxophone with Bruce Springstein and the E Street band and assumed almost legendary stature. Clarence the Big Man Clemons has also collaborated with other major stars including Ringo Starr and Jackson Browne as well as having his own band.

 

Remind youself of the great Jungleland Sax Solo (YouTube)

 

Photograph of Clarence Clemons playing Born to Run live from Wikimedia Commons by "Wasted Time R" under Creative Commons Attribution Sharealike licence 3.0.

R.I.P. Clarence Clemons

1942 - 2011

Clarence Clemons die on Saturday 19h June 2001 in hospital following a stroke a week earlier. Bruce Sprinsgtein paid tribute online, saying, "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."
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"My Face is My Pass"

That's a memorable quote by Clarence Clemons in his book and something he expands upon in this interview in which he talks about the book and discusses some of the highlights. The "Working on a Dream" tour is drawing to a close, but Clarence predicts they will be back ... Now 67 years old (2009) and having had multiple joints replaced following arthritis, his health is a concern to many of his fans and we wonder how many more time he will tour again.
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Clarence Clemons' Autobiography

Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales

It's arrived. The book everyone was waiting for - Clarence Clemons' autobiogaphy - is available now. For the first time a member of Bruce Springstein's E Street Band lifts the lid on things like the story of Born to Run and the break up of the band. There is even a foreword by The Boss, Bruce Springstein. Someone left this review in the guestbook:

"When the change was made uptown and the Big Man joined the band, from the coastline to the city all the little pretties raise their hands."
-Bruce Springsteen "Tenth Avenue Freeze-out"

October 21, 2009 marks [marked] the release of 'The Big Man' Clarence Clemons' much anticipated book, Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales. A true gift to readers and fans alike, the book gives the world a probing look into the inner circle of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Bands royally rocking musical family. Co-authored by Don Reo with the forward written by Bruce Springsteen, this cutting edge book enthralls readers with fact and fiction. In the forward Bruce writes, "This is not your average rock book. It is something creative, something unique, something new. It is the story of E-Street. It is the story of stories. It is the story of the Big Man." Throughout the book The Big Man opens up about his relationship with Bruce and reveals never been told before info. "I knew it when I first met him. Because he was what I was looking for and I was what he was looking for. When we met it felt real for me, it felt real for both of us," Clemons proclaims.



Even former President Bill Clinton has been impressed by this long-awaited book and has joined the throng who are praising it, saying:

"Legends have a way of growing every time they're told. This time, the tales of rock and roll history are brought to life by a legend himself, Clarence Clemons. Big Man relives Clemons's story in a unique personal narrative that's bound in both history and folklore. This is an essential read for any music lover."

Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales

Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales

by: Clarence Clemons, Don Reo

Amazon Price: $5.41 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now
List Price: $26.99

Jungleland

The greatest sax solo by Clarence Clemons has to be Jungleland played live, which is the video I have chosen to showcase here. For more tracks and more videos, then please visit the Clarence Clemons and Jungleland section of my Greatest Sax Solos site.

The tenor sax solo wasn't orginally played as a straight solo. It was assembled after recording Jungleland from many diferent segments and put together into the piece we now all know and love by Bruce and Clarence Clemons during a mammoth 16 hour session. The Big Man reports that joined up solo is exceptionally hard to play.
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Greatest Sax Solo

If you think Clarene Clemons and Jungleland is the greatest sax solo then don't forget to vote for it in the poll
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Clarence Clemons Talks to Associated Press

November 12, 2009

In this video interview with AP, "The Big Man of the E Street Band speaks out on music, the glory days and his intense connection with Bruce Springsteen. " It's a fairly short, watchable iittle interview cut with short snatches of Bruce Springstein. Clarance talks of his relationship with Bruce and their love for each other.
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The Latest Yahoo News on Clarence Clemons

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Clarence Clemons on Flickr

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What is your Favorite Clarence Clemons stuff

Although the 2009 book is the Big Man's fist autobiography, there have been other books, and of course loads of CDs and DVDs.

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Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales by Clarence Clemons, Don Reo

Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales by Clarence Clemons, Don Reo

For the first time ever comes the inside story of Clarence more...0 points

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Live in Asbury Park

Live in Asbury Park

Clarence Clemens Temple Of Soul Live in Asbury Par more...0 points

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Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales by Clarence Clemons, Don Reo

Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales by Clarence Clemons, Don Reo

For the first time ever comes the inside story of Clarence more...0 points

The Big Man's Big Site

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(Other saxophonists on Squidoo)

John ColtraneJohn Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist who played with some of the greats like Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk. With roots in bebop he played a tenor, alto and soprano sax. Unusually he also played flute and the uncommon bass clarinet. He died at the relatively young age of 40 in 1967.
Zoot SimsZoot Sims was an American jazz tenor / alto saxophonist (adding soprano sax late in his career) who played with great bands like Benny Goodman and was popular both in New York and on the West Coast.

Have Your Say

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Are you a Clarence Clemons fan? If you are, or if you are discovering the Big Man for the first time, I hope you have found this lens interesting. I'd ♥ love ♥ for you to please sign my guestbook. Home
I'd also be very grateful if you took the time to rate my lens. To go back to the top of my page just click home on the right. Thank you,Kate Phizackerley pseudo signature

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  • Reply
    AnthonyAltorenna Oct 25, 2011 @ 11:41 am | delete
    Others played the sax, but The Big Man changed Rock & Roll forever with his soulful sound and iconic driving solos. Clarence was the pillar of the E Street Band, and his music lives on.
  • Reply
    PizmoBeach Sep 19, 2010 @ 1:51 am | delete
    Great lens. I saw Clarence play with Bruce Springsteen in Sydney (Australia) about 8 years ago. Brilliant!
  • Reply
    JoyfulPamela Sep 12, 2010 @ 8:19 pm | delete
    Mr. Clemons is a great player! I enjoyed reading about him here on your lens!
  • Reply
    poutine Jan 16, 2010 @ 11:09 am | delete
    Very interesting to read about Clarence Clemons.
    I heard him play before but didn't know his name.
    I learned a lot from this lens.
  • Reply
    triathlontraining Nov 19, 2009 @ 12:46 pm | delete
    I'd never heard of him before finding your lens. Thank you! :)
  • Reply
    GroovyFinds Nov 18, 2009 @ 4:48 am | delete
    Great info, Very informative!
  • Reply
    Ramkitten Nov 17, 2009 @ 6:22 pm | delete
    I knew the face but not the name or anything much about him until now. I watched the interview, and it's nice to hear about bands that get along well and have fun. I hear too much of the "other stuff" about bands, but it always makes the music better when you know bandmates are true friends.
  • Reply
    Kate-Phizackerley Oct 13, 2009 @ 3:38 pm | in reply to CAS_PR | delete
    Thanks Carol Anne
  • Reply
    CAS_PR Oct 8, 2009 @ 8:31 am | delete
    "When the change was made uptown and the Big Man joined the band, from the coastline to the city all the little pretties raise their hands."
    -Bruce Springsteen "Tenth Avenue Freeze-out"
    October 21, 2009 marks the release of 'The Big Man' Clarence Clemons' much anticipated book, Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales. A true gift to readers and fans alike, the book gives the world a probing look into the inner circle of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Bands royally rocking musical family.
    Co-authored by Don Reo with the forward written by Bruce Springsteen, this cutting edge book enthralls readers with fact and fiction. In the forward Bruce writes, "This is not your average rock book. It is something creative, something unique, something new. It is the story of E-Street. It is the story of stories. It is the story of the Big Man."
    Throughout the book The Big Man opens up about his relationship with Bruce and reveals never been told before info. "I knew it when I first met him. Because he was what I was looking for and I was what he was looking for. When we met it felt real for me, it felt real for both of us," Clemons proclaims.
    "The tales of rock and roll history are brought to life by a legend himself, Clarence Clemons." Former President Bill Clinton
    Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales is a must have for anyone who loves Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and has been touched by the Big Man's legendary musical prowess.
    Visit the official Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales website:
    www.TheBigMansBook.com
    Or buy now at:
    Pre-Order The Book From Amazon
    ###
    For more information on Clarence Clemons, please contact TheBigMansMail@aol.com
    ©Carol AnneSzel
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Kate-Phizackerley

Off Squidoo I am a middle-aged woman with a wide range of interests from Ancient Egypt, backgammon, cookery ... to ... Zimbabwe which I visited 20 years... more »

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