Clarence Clemons Passes

Clarence Clemons, longtime saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, passed away Saturday (6/18) at a Palm Beach, FL hospital, following complications from a stroke he suffered June 12, according to the New York Times. He was 69 years old.

Clemons was a member of Springsteen’s band for over 30 years and appears in the iconic album cover photo for the classic Born To Run (pictured at right). He performed with other artists including Ringo Starr’s All-Star Band, and recorded with Aretha Franklin, Jackson Browne and Roy Orbison among others. The 6’4” former college football player was also a towering presence on TV and film, where he appeared in The Tracey Ullman Show, HBO’s The Wire, and Martin Scorsese’s New York, New York. Recently he contributed his sax skills to two tracks on Lady Gaga’s album Born This Way.