Clarence Clemons, the larger-than-life saxophone player for Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, died in 2011. This is what I wrote. I only saw Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band perform “Rosalita” one time in all the years. I love “Rosalita,” love the song because it sounds like 17 years old, you know? It’s bold and messy and irresponsible and full of life. The words, let’s not kid anybody, are ridiculous.
Not a Springsteen fan either (again, don't dislike, and enjoy his music when it's on, but I don't need to ever go to a concert), but since its the Christmas season, I would point out the Best Version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" is Bruce's (and the one you probably will hear most often on the radio) and he and Clarence get to riff a little at the beginning of his version.
Hard hard HARD agree. The live version, and yes it is hands down the best of all possible versions of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town".
I don't love Bruce but I *do* like him (even if I always feel compelled to point out, during "Born in the USA" that the troops around Khe Sahn were NVA...North Vietnamese Army, not the People's Liberation Front, the Viet Cong, and yes, it bugs me and yes, I know that's weird) but he has written some of the songs that perfectly encapsulate a time and place in history and in life, and Clarence made them great.
I’m not into Springsteen (I don’t dislike him - just not into him) and I had no idea who Clarence was, but I figured, Joe, that whatever you had to write about them was worth the read. As always, thanks!
In one version of that "Growin' Up" story, Bruce is about to go meet with God and Clarence asks him to see if he can find out who swiped the tape deck from his hotel room. Classic.
I live in southeastern Virginia, where The Big Man grew up. Shortly after he died, they arranged two memorial shows for him. The players included Gary U.S. Bonds, Southside Johnny, Gary Tallent, John Cafferty and Michael Antunes, Bobby Bandieri ... those were great shows. Loving tributes. Jake Clemons played at them, too. He grew up here, still comes back and does shows with his band.
As Bruce said The Big Man's eulogy ... you don't leave the band when you die. You leave the band when *we* die.
Thanks for reposting this. One small nitpick: King Curtis played tenor sax on "Yakety Yak." (For those who may not know, Clarence also played tenor sax.)
I first saw Bruce in 1978, and I remember thinking that "Rosalita" was the greatest thing I'd ever seen. Watching Bruce and The Big Man on stage together was Awesome. Check that - it was much-more than Awesome. It was damn-near perfection.
My wife & I saw Clarence play solo at the Ventura Theater in Ventura, Ca and quess who shows up and jumps up on stage with the Big Man for a few songs.
We saw Bruce & Clarence with about 400 people. Incredible!!
I probably wrote this the first time you posted the story… but as a casual Bruce fan, the line that always gets me is the one about the record company advance. I think that’s the most joyful line in rock & roll.
I’ve listened to that song more times than I care to count, and have seen it live several times, and that line still gives me chills of joy. It represents that first moment in life when you’re free and see an unlimited future ahead.
The last Bruce concert I saw was in 2009, when he played the entire Born To Run album. It was the only time I heard Clarence play that solo in Jungleland, and it gave me chills. My enduring memory of that show is Scooter and the Big Man walking off the stage with their arms around each other’s shoulders. Oh, and Rosalita was the last song of the night.
A very beautiful remembrance. Fell in love with Clarence the first time I saw Bruce and the band, Tower Theatre in Upper Darby PA (at the very end of the Market Street El) on my birthday in November 1974) - and it was Rosalita that really did the trick!
Amazing - I literally had just heard Rosalita before reading this article. As a child of the 70's-80's I could not agree with Joe more. What I love is how well rounded his writing can be - sports to Clarence Clemons. Made my day!
Love this...For people who don't live on E Street, the importance of Clarence is hard to explain. I never really understood until the Wrecking Ball tour (the first one after he passed) and realized that everyone had come to celebrate him and his life. It was very cathartic (I had lost my brother just about 18 months earlier) and I never hear that sax without thinking of that moment.
PS - The Growing Up story (from Agora 1978) is the greatest concert story ever! I disagree about the importance of the 11th commandment (IMHO it makes the whole story), but that is a debate for another day.
Thanks for bringing back all these awesome stories again.
There were tear drops on the city the day the Big Man died.
Not a Springsteen fan either (again, don't dislike, and enjoy his music when it's on, but I don't need to ever go to a concert), but since its the Christmas season, I would point out the Best Version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" is Bruce's (and the one you probably will hear most often on the radio) and he and Clarence get to riff a little at the beginning of his version.
Hard hard HARD agree. The live version, and yes it is hands down the best of all possible versions of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town".
I don't love Bruce but I *do* like him (even if I always feel compelled to point out, during "Born in the USA" that the troops around Khe Sahn were NVA...North Vietnamese Army, not the People's Liberation Front, the Viet Cong, and yes, it bugs me and yes, I know that's weird) but he has written some of the songs that perfectly encapsulate a time and place in history and in life, and Clarence made them great.
I’m not into Springsteen (I don’t dislike him - just not into him) and I had no idea who Clarence was, but I figured, Joe, that whatever you had to write about them was worth the read. As always, thanks!
In one version of that "Growin' Up" story, Bruce is about to go meet with God and Clarence asks him to see if he can find out who swiped the tape deck from his hotel room. Classic.
I live in southeastern Virginia, where The Big Man grew up. Shortly after he died, they arranged two memorial shows for him. The players included Gary U.S. Bonds, Southside Johnny, Gary Tallent, John Cafferty and Michael Antunes, Bobby Bandieri ... those were great shows. Loving tributes. Jake Clemons played at them, too. He grew up here, still comes back and does shows with his band.
As Bruce said The Big Man's eulogy ... you don't leave the band when you die. You leave the band when *we* die.
I was going to share the same quote! Well Played.
Yes the story of Clarence asking to find out who stole his tape deck was the Cleveland Agora 8-9-1978 - my very first Springsteen concert!
Thanks for reposting this. One small nitpick: King Curtis played tenor sax on "Yakety Yak." (For those who may not know, Clarence also played tenor sax.)
I first saw Bruce in 1978, and I remember thinking that "Rosalita" was the greatest thing I'd ever seen. Watching Bruce and The Big Man on stage together was Awesome. Check that - it was much-more than Awesome. It was damn-near perfection.
P.S. Felt compelled to listen to Born to Run.
Thanks again!!
My wife & I saw Clarence play solo at the Ventura Theater in Ventura, Ca and quess who shows up and jumps up on stage with the Big Man for a few songs.
We saw Bruce & Clarence with about 400 people. Incredible!!
Thanks for the story🎸🎸
Wonderful‼️Please do not waste your talents on the Harry Heilmans & Del Shofners of now or times past‼️
I probably wrote this the first time you posted the story… but as a casual Bruce fan, the line that always gets me is the one about the record company advance. I think that’s the most joyful line in rock & roll.
I’ve listened to that song more times than I care to count, and have seen it live several times, and that line still gives me chills of joy. It represents that first moment in life when you’re free and see an unlimited future ahead.
The last Bruce concert I saw was in 2009, when he played the entire Born To Run album. It was the only time I heard Clarence play that solo in Jungleland, and it gave me chills. My enduring memory of that show is Scooter and the Big Man walking off the stage with their arms around each other’s shoulders. Oh, and Rosalita was the last song of the night.
Because of this article, to this day, I cannot hear Rosalita without thinking of Joe.
A very beautiful remembrance. Fell in love with Clarence the first time I saw Bruce and the band, Tower Theatre in Upper Darby PA (at the very end of the Market Street El) on my birthday in November 1974) - and it was Rosalita that really did the trick!
Amazing - I literally had just heard Rosalita before reading this article. As a child of the 70's-80's I could not agree with Joe more. What I love is how well rounded his writing can be - sports to Clarence Clemons. Made my day!
Love this...For people who don't live on E Street, the importance of Clarence is hard to explain. I never really understood until the Wrecking Ball tour (the first one after he passed) and realized that everyone had come to celebrate him and his life. It was very cathartic (I had lost my brother just about 18 months earlier) and I never hear that sax without thinking of that moment.
PS - The Growing Up story (from Agora 1978) is the greatest concert story ever! I disagree about the importance of the 11th commandment (IMHO it makes the whole story), but that is a debate for another day.
Thanks for bringing back all these awesome stories again.
I remember reading this and thinking “that is some great great writing.” The years have not changed my opinion.
PS I’m 66 myself and I feel like Clarence did on that stage.