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Clarence Clemonds has died

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  • Clarence Clemonds has died

    Key member of Springsteen's E-Street Band

    http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/amp...ns-dead-at-69/
    Testing
    "I saw a flock of moosen! There were many of 'em. Many much moosen. Out in the woods- in the woodes- in the woodsen. The meese want the food. The food is to eatenesen."

  • #2
    One of the most iconic sax solos in all of rock. Right up there with Alto Reed (Silver Bullet Band (Bob Seger)) and Raphael Ravenscroft (Baker Street).
    Quote Dalesys:
    ... as in "Ifn thet dawg comes at me, Ima gonna shutz ma panz!"

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    • #3
      I was gutted to hear this when I woke up this morning.

      My boyfriend and I were lucky enough to see Bruce and the E-Street Band a couple of years back at a concert in London. Clarence clearly wasn't in the best of health (they had a chair onstage for him to rest in between numbers) but his solos still sounded as amazing as they did 30 years ago.

      He also played a mean tin whistle during "American Land" at that gig - the whole crowd was jumping!
      Last edited by Gumby30; 06-19-2011, 12:41 PM.
      "I fell out of favour with heaven somewhere and I'm here for the hell of it now"

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      • #4
        I'd read about the stroke last week, and hoped he'd recover.

        A sad day for all E Street Band fans. RIP, Big Man.
        I don't have an attitude problem. You have a perception problem.
        My LiveJournal
        A page we can all agree with!

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        • #5
          I rarely grieve or shed much of a tear when I hear about a celebrity's death, as I don't know these people.

          I can't say any of that about Clarence, though, as I had the pleasure of meeting him a few times down here in Key West. Not only was he a master saxophonist, he was also very warm, friendly, and giving, and enjoyed spending time down here in Key Weird, as many locals often enjoyed having him here. And he would often gracing us with his musical prowess.

          He was a good friend of my friend Frank's, and I knew him well enough to say hi to him whenever I saw him, which was not infrequently. (Note: I just talked to Frank on the phone, and he says he is not doing all that well, but he sounds like he's holding up okay, all things considered. Coming right on the heels of his best friend dying a couple of months ago, this can't be easy for Frank.)

          But at times like these, I prefer to reflect on the positive, so I shall tell you all about my first encounter with Clarence.

          Every holiday season, usually about a week before Christmas, Key West has the Lighted Boat Parade. This is exactly what it sounds like: to wit, in one of the main harbors down here, various boats that have done themselves up with holiday light decorations parade through the harbor, to the delight of those on the docks and in the dockside bars. I had never been to the LBP until several years ago, when I decided to go, hoping to get a decent view of things from the dock at the Waterfront Bar. As I and a friend got down to the dock and to a spot we thought was pretty good, I bumped into my friend, the Captain Author. He was going to be in the LBP, and was taking a few people along with him. He had room for a couple more. Would we like to go?

          Answer: duh!

          So we grabbed a couple of drinks from the bar and hopped on his lovely little sloop with about a dozen other people. His boat happened to be right up front near the bar, right where we had been standing. As we settled in to our seats on the boat, we noticed a very large older black man setting up with his saxophone. Apparently we had front row seats for the pre-parade National Anthem.

          No. No we didn't. Correction. We had front row seat for the pre-parade National Anthem by Clarence Clemons.

          Now, we don't get too starstruck down here in KW, as we are not only a major destination for vacationing celebrities, but also a very laidback community that just doesn't get obnoxious to anyone, famous or not, who is just trying to enjoy their vacation. So no one went CRAZY crazy, but of course it was nice to see Clarence Clemons, up close and personal.

          And for any doubters, yes, the National Anthem on a saxophone, when performed by a master of the craft, is a thing of utter beauty. To have been right there to witness that is not only one of my best celebrity moments, it is simply one of my best moments.

          Until next time, Clarence. Keep wailing on that horn.

          "The Customer Is Always Right...But The Bartender Decides Who Is
          Still A Customer."

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          • #6
            To paraphrase Tom T. Hall in "The Year Clayton Delaney Died",

            Might be the good Lord likes a little saxophone too.
            Any fool can piss on the floor. It takes a talented SC to shit on the ceiling.

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