[aragon63]

  E Street Band's Clarence Clemons Dies at 69

[Marbles]

Damn!
Thanks for letting us know.
RIP to The Big Man

[soundbitten1]

bummer.   

[Mass. Wine Guy]

This is really, really terrible and sad. I've been thinking of Clarence ever since his stroke last week, hoping that he would recover. I can't think of anyone else like him, or imagine that there ever will be. Rest in peace.

This is a fine You Tube collection of Clarence, Springsteen and the E Street Band playing an outdoor concert in Paris in 1985:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Bruce+Springsteen+%2B+Paris+85&search=Search

[rodge827]

A sad, sad, day. 
Growing up on the Jersey Shore in the 70's and 80's, you couldn't help but be moved by his big ripping sax solo's. Soo much of my youth was influenced by the Big Man. From keggers on the beach, crusin' Beach Haven, tearing it up at Joe Pops, hustling the cuties, Clarence was there. His ripping and explosive sax solo's were the backbone of the E Street Band.
Yeah, I'm really bummed by his passing!!
Chris

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PTJHhUeAfc
 

[ebag4]

Very sad,he will be missed.  The E street band will be no more, for me anyway.

[SlushPuppy]

Wow, I really thought he would recover. Bruce probably would have been big had they never met, but that sax is what made his music unique and truly special. I went through a phase in high school where all I listened to was Springsteen. Sad to hear this. RIP Clarence.

[putz]

Internet was down last nite. Father's day, blueberry pancakes w/ maple syrup, Sunday Star Ledger. All is good. First bite is in my mouth as I grab the front page and there it is ... Talk about a bittersweet moment.

Began spending my Summer's at the Shore in the mid 60's. Worked at Mrs. Jays, hung out at the Upstage, Student Prince, Sunshine Inn. Stone Pony, etc. Grew up with the E Street Band. Losing Danny was bad,  now Clarence, what can you say. I'm truly at a loss.

Listening to BTR and Jungleland has just started. If you've ever seen this song live, the look Bruce gives Clarence after his solo ends pretty much sums it all up.

Too upset to say any more.

RIP Big Man.

And the poets down here 
Don't write nothing at all, they just stand back and let it all be

[Letitroll98]

We first saw the E Street Band in '73 during "The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle" tour, we had no idea who Springsteen was and actually went to see the opener, Richie Havens.  Bruce did what later became a signature monologue during the 'E Street Shuffle' song describing the mythical 1st meeting of Clarence Clemons and Springsteen.  When he got to the part where their hands reached out and fingertips touched when 'sparks flew on E Street' and the whole band explodes with Clemons blasting on sax, it literally brought the house down at the (now defunct) Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh.  We'll miss the Big Man.

[DTB300]

Saw the "Born to Run" tour/concert at Kleinhans Music Hall in Buffalo.  We drove there from college on a whim to see a concert.  Bought tickets 1 hour before the concert started. 

[Don_S]

I saw Bruce in 1973 or 1974 at a weekend festival (multiple acts) in Athens OH. My friends and I wondered who the heck he was.  He mumbled through his entire set. It was pretty bad.  Of course the sound system was not the greatest either.  Later I became a big fan of the power and passion of his words and music including (big time) the magic of Clemons' sax. Bruce upped his stage game as well. 

Here is a clip of Bruce and Clarence singing a duet (2nd half of the clip).  When Clarence puts his arm around Bruce you can see the size of his "paw".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kTnyP33fbM&feature=related

[Rob Babcock]

I had a feeling based on the reports of his health that he may not recover.  He was a special talent and will be missed.