Arts & Entertainment

Clarence Clemons Suffers Stroke

Legendary E Street Band saxophonist fell ill in Florida home

Multiple news outlets are confirming that 69-year-old Clarence Clemons has suffered a stroke.

The legendary saxophone player, a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, is "seriously ill" after having a stroke in his Florida home, Roger Friedman of showbizz411.com reports.  He has been in failing health for several years.

Clemons joined the E Street Band in 1972 and his meeting with Springsteen has become legend among fans, an evening that allegedly also inspired the events featured in the song "10th Avenue Freezeout."

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"A rainy, windy night it was, and when I opened the door the whole thing flew off its hinges and blew away down the street," Clemons recalled in an interview. "The band were on-stage, but staring at me framed in the doorway. And maybe that did make Bruce a little nervous because I just said, 'I want to play with your band,' and he said, 'Sure, you do anything you want.'"

Quickly becoming a fan favorite, his large stature (6-foot-4) and larger than life persona earned him the nickname "The Big Man."

Find out what's happening in Manasquan-Belmarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Clemons lent his signature saxophone sound to E Street Band hits such as "Spirit in the Night" and "Jungleland" and became a fixture at the band's electrifying live performances for decades.

In April, Patch.com was there when entitled "Who Do I Think I Am?" at the Garden State Film Festival in Asbury Park.


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