Remembering the “Big Man” Clarence Clemons,
Springsteen’s E Street Saxophone maestro
who loved jamming with Jerry Garcia…
Clarence passed away 5 years ago today.
His nephew Jake, the Little Big Man, now plays the sax parts for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band,
doing a wonderful job that would make the Big Man proud,
and the music continues from E Street to the Backstreets,
all over this American land, and across the river…
But like his friend Jerry Garcia.
there is no one that can ever replace Clarence Clemons.
He is very loved, and missed.
Clarence was one of a kind,
and if you ever felt his music… kid, you better get the picture…
The wail of that sax grabs your soul..
like it must have for Bruce,
when that change was made uptown
and the big man joined the band.
It’s no wonder Jerry and Clarence liked to jam. What a treat for those lucky old suns that got to see it!
Here is a play list of Clarence Clemons sitting in with the Grateful Dead and the Jerry Garcia Band.
It begins with a Morning Dew from Shoreline Amphitheatre, Summer Solstice, 6.21.1989.
Then on to Clarence sitting in on some Jerry Garcia Band classic covers of Van Morrison’s “And It Stoned Me”, Bob Dylan’s “Tangled Up In Blue”, and Bruce Cockburn’s “Waiting For A Miracle”.
There is a standout version of “Fire on the Mountain” with the Grateful Dead from 1989’s AIDS Benefit in Oakland, that is really where his association with Jerry and the boys got its start. After a few more tracks, the list includes 4 COMPLETE Jerry Garcia Band shows with Clarence playing through most of them, as well as 2 full Grateful Dead shows , including the complete set from the Aids Benefit on 5.27.89
This is not all, and as more Clarence and Jerry videos surface, they will be added.
It’s also interesting to note, that one of Clarence Clemons final live performances was his sit in with Furthur 4/6/2011 in Boca Raton Florida.
For more on the collaborations of these two beloved and missed musical greats.
Deadhead author extraordinaire Blair Jackson (Golden Road Blog on Dead.net) wrote a great piece about Clarence, The Big Man’s Jerry Days, shortly after his passing.
here’s the good part… the music…. Jerry and Clarence…
Please visit http://www.helphomesafe.org/
Clarence Clemons gave a lot of himself to help children of Homesafe.
HomeSafe provides comprehensive programs preventing new cases of violence, protecting victims of child abuse and domestic violence, and preparing children and families for safer, more productive lives.
Please give them a little donation, in memory of Clarence, and keep the love real. .
Clarence in his own words…
Photo is from the official Clarence Clemons Facebook:
