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Clarence Clemons
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Clarence Clemons | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Background information | ||
| Also known as | The Big Man | |
| Born | January 11, 1942 | |
| Origin | Norfolk, Virginia, USA | |
| Genre(s) | Rock Music | |
| Instrument(s) | Saxophone | |
| Associated acts |
E Street Band | |
| Website | Official Website | |
Clarence Clemons (born January 11, 1942 in Norfolk, Virginia) is an American musician, best known as the saxophone player in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band.
Known as "The Big Man", Clemons has been playing with Springsteen since 1972; his sax parts are an easily recognized feature of the E Street sound, with the most famous being his long elegiac solo during the song "Jungleland". With the band Clemons plays mostly tenor saxophone, but has also occasionally played soprano and baritone saxophone. He also plays various percussion instruments during songs that do not have a saxophone part.
In addition, Clemons has a larger-than-life persona within the band; he serves as a visual foil to Springsteen during concerts (as well as on the Born to Run foldout album cover) and as the crowd favorite is always the last player mentioned during band introductions, usually after a lavish, over-the-top build-up from Springsteen. His arrival into the band is celebrated by Springsteen in the song "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out"; many spoken introductions or interludes during Springsteen shows have also delivered tall, sometimes supernatural tales regarding Clemons' initial appearance to Springsteen.
In addition to his E Street Band work, Clemons has recorded with many other artists and has had a number of musical projects on his own. The best known of these are his 1985 vocal duet with Jackson Browne on the hit single "You're a Friend of Mine", and his saxophone work on Aretha Franklin's 1985 hit single "Freeway of Love". In the 90's he recorded a Japan only CD release called Aja and the Big Man "Get it On" (on Dreamtrain Records) with Asian-American singer/songwriter, Aja Kim. In the 2000s Clemons has been working with a group called The Temple of Soul.
Clemons was raised in Norfolk County, Virginia. He attended the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore on an football athletic scholarship — he was a lineman with professional football aspirations until an injury derailed his sports career. The major influence on his saxophone style has been King Curtis.
Clemons has appeared in movies and on television making his debut in Martin Scorsese's 1977 musical, New York, New York in which he played a trumpet player. He can be seen as one of the Three Most Important People In The World in the 1989 film Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. He has also been a guest voice in an episode of The Simpsons. He also played the role of Jack in Swing starring opposite Lisa Stansfield and Hugo Speer, directed by Nick Mead. He appeared alongside Michael McKean and David Bowe as a miner in one episode of musician Weird Al Yankovic's children's television show The Weird Al Show.
According to the Smoking Gun website, Clemons is the only male member of the E Street Band to enjoy a private dressing room. In it, he requires Carr's Water Biscuits and Beluga Caviar. Additionally, Clemens enjoys a whole roasted chicken promptly at 9:45 during every Springsteen performance.[1]
He is currently lost in the wilderness of China shooting a documentary film directed by Nick Mead entitled "Who Do I Think I Am" - a black man's voyage of discovery through music and spirituality in the great wide open of the Chinese mainland.