Big Man the Book

Clarence Clemons, affectionately known worldwide as The Big Man, has captivated audiences’ for over forty years with his distinguished ability for making his saxophone speak a universal language; he has the unique power to move listeners with the melody of his very soul. His accomplishments are a vast spectrum of impressive artistic endeavors.  Clarence has never restricted himself to one form of creative expression; he always draws from his wide array of talents. In addition to an ever lengthening roster of live concert performances and recording projects, his credits include a growing portfolio of dramatic and comedic appearances, for both film and television.

For more than 3 decades Mr. Clemons has lofted Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band to become, as some have deemed it, the greatest rock and roll band in the world. They are currently on an international tour promoting the Working on a Dream album.  He was influenced by sax legends: Junior Walker, King Curtis, and Gato Barbieri; however, Clarence has developed his own inimitable style, which has made him one of the most renowned saxophonists in the world.  His live performances with the E Street Band, the Jerry Garcia Band, the Grateful Dead, and Ringo Starr’s All Star Band have left audiences breathless, clinging to every expressive note pouring from his horn.

His discography is immense and varied; creating what seems to be an endlessly definitive statement of musical expression. He has recorded albums with such notable and wide-ranging artists as Aretha Franklin, Paul Young, Alvin Lee and Roy Orbison.  The greatest testament to Clarence’s wide appeal would be his extraordinary aptitude to span a range of musical genres from David Koz’s “Sax Man” LP to Ricky Skagg’s LP “Honey.”  One of his own albums, entitled Hero, includes the well known hit single, You’re A Friend of Mine, recorded as a vocal duet with Jackson Browne. His own musical productions are just as comprehensive as those recorded with his contemporaries; from his spiritually inspired CD Peacemaker to his sonic sensations jointly recorded and titled, Live In Asbury Park Volumes I and II, which feature Bruce Springsteen jamming with Clarence’s band.  Presently, he has a new and exciting band, Temple Of Soul, which is composed of music greats Narada Michael Walden, T. M. Stevens, Vernon “Ice” Black, and Clarence Clemons himself.  Their CD, Brothers In Arms, was released March 25, 2008 and is currently available around the world.  This album will surely shock and delight listeners, for it is absolutely different than anything he has recorded in the past. Temple Of Soul’s Brothers In Arms will make you dance, get down, party, groove and most assuredly want to hear more.

Mr. Clemons continues to add roles to his performing arts resume in both television and motion pictures. He has appeared in several television series ranging from situation comedies to intensely riveting dramas.  He has guest starred in television shows such as Different Strokes, the Tracey Ullman Show, Nash Bridges, My Wife And Kids, That’s Life, The Sentinel, Viper, and HBO’s hit series The Wire. He has had several featured roles on the big screen: Martin Sorcese’s New York, New York, Bill And Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Blues Brothers 2000, and Swing. He is now utilizing his talents for writing scripts and musical scores for television and film.

The Big Man with a big heart hosts an annual golf and tennis tournament, The Classic, which benefits the children at Home Safe in South Florida; a shelter for abused and abandoned children ranging in age from infancy to 18 years old. His grace, charm and generosity have established Clarence as the only celebrity to host The Classic three consecutive years in a row. He has helped Home Safe raise over 1.4 million dollars to date.

Clarence Clemons has a larger-than-life persona on, as well as off stage.  To be touched by his creativity in any medium is an awe-inspiring experience, as The Boss says “You all want to be him but you can’t”.

On October 21, 2009 Clarence releases his book, Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales.  The first book written by a member of the E-Street Band is not your typical memoir.  For the first time, Clarence “Big Man” Clemons and best friend Don Reo have put their experiences to paper shedding light on the almighty E-Street Band. Clarence and Don set out to write a new kind of book – one that isn’t the same old story; one that tells true, unknown stories from the E-Street Band as well as captures Clarence’s larger-than-life storyteller persona in a series of hybrid fact-and-fiction stories called “Legends.” This is not only a compilation of honesty and outright hilarity; it is a collection of times beginning with the birth of this musical phenomenon.

Clarence and Don have made sure to bring something fresh, something that has never been told such as:

• The amazing story behind the final hours of making Born To Run
• What happened when Clarence and Ringo Starr were sitting in a hotel room and Clarence got the call that Bruce was breaking up the band.
• How Bruce and Clarence met that dark, stormy night at the Student Prince
• The E-Street band’s show at Sing-Sing prison where all of their equipment blows out right as they took the stage
• The secret that Robert De Niro told Clarence and Bruce they had to keep for 25 years

Far from the average rock book, BIG MAN is the definitive story of the E-Street Band, told through the eyes and the soul of the Big Man