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Subscribe to RSSI never thought Clarence Clemons would die. Never contemplated it for a moment. Like Bruce, he was a constant. I figured they'd always be around. I figured that sound would always be accessible. But on a sunny Father's Day afternoon, I found myself in the Stone Pony, walking through the bar, looking at the tributes with the other stunned and sad fans. Clarence was a part of life on the Jersey Shore. His bar in Red Bank, his condo in Sea Bright (where I'm afraid my buddies and I might have staked out the door a few times), and all those nights in Trade Winds, the Stone Pony, and a dozen other places where he would show up with his friend Bruce and oblige the crowd by blowing that horn of his. What a giant of a man. What an icon. What a loss. We die-hard E Streeters are all dealing with the same tough question: What are we supposed to do now? Of course, it's not about us at all. This is about loss and legacy and thanks. For the music and the memories and the soul...of the Jersey Shore.
Tributes to the Big Man line the stage at The Stone Pony
The flag flying half-mast at the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
We hope you can join us for the broadcast tonight. We will remember Clarence Clemons.
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Brian, my "obit club" and I thought of you when we heart this sad news. I know you Jersey boys took it hard, but us Texas girls are awfully glad we got to see him here last year, too.
All your regulars here just knew that you would devote this evenings blog to the Big Man. Although I've never been a follower of the E Street Band, on another favorite blogsite of mine someone posted some clips of the Band, so, in honor of Mr. Clemons I think I'll check out those clips later on this evening.
I have been a Springsteen fan since the mid-70's. And I finally got to see them in concert in 1988 in Berlin, GE. They were amazing! Clarence - you were one of a kind and will be sorely missed!
I want to thank you for the story you aired about "The Big Man" (Mr. Clemons), it was very impressive. B to R was one of my favorite. Tom
You said it well Brian. Thank you. We will all miss the Big Man!
I watch you every night I can. I've seen you interviewed and have laughed at your stories. Tonight I cried as you talked about "the big man". I have seen Bruce and the E Street Band every year they've played my hometown of Toronto. Never have I been disappointed at a concert until now. It will be hard to see Bruce without his buddy and it will no doubt be a tearfest each and every song I hear. I tear up everytime a Springsteen tune plays today on the radio(very embarassing to my 19 year old son as I'm driving him to work). Thank you so much for your heartfelt words and memories. I'm now going to sit in the backyard with a drink in hand, toast the Big Man and BLAST Born to Run.
Sincerely just another Clarence Clemons fan, Sharon Garvey
Brian, I can't thank you enough for ending your Nightly News report tonight with a tribute to Clarence. It was a fitting, big send off for a big man with a big heart -- a man who touched so many of us around the world for so many years. Yes, I know it's not all about us, but I can't help but keep wondering, what on earth will we do now?
Thank you for the story on Clarence.His solo on Jungleland is the best.
Good Evening Mr.Williams, Another fine broadcast this evening. So very sad the passing of Clarence Clemons and it was very thoughtful of you to share the pictures you took from around the Stone Pony bar and the stage. He was truly a great talent and his saxophone playing sound was uniquely him. It is heartbreaking for Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band as well as all his millions of fans. Knowing you are a big fan of the E-Street band one would think of you when one heard the sad news. So very sad and it is a huge loss to the music world.
Very moving, touching and heartfelt tribute you did honoring Clarence Clemons on the broadcast Mr.Williams. A real legend in music. He will be greatly missed by millions of people.
Now on to the broadcast. First of all the report by Mr.Almaguer about the wildfires in Arizona and surrounding areas. It is good the winds have calmed somewhat to help the firefighters battle the flames, but so much has been destroyed all over the area. So many homes destroyed and people having to evacuate not knowing what happened to their home. It is simply horrible and heartbreaking. Seeing all the smoke and flames one hopes so much the flames will cease. Ones thoughts and prayers go out to all ghe people affected by the wildfires.
The report by Stephanie Gosk from Libya showed how NATO has caused much damage to compounds in Tripoli, but hearing there has been civilian casualties is awful. NATO admitting their mistake in causing civilian losses showed they are apologizing for the terrible losses. But for the civilians is it hard since children were caught in the airstrikes. One hopes there will be no more civilians lost and one always hopes for peace.
The report by Mr.Bazell about food allergies showed how serious a threat these allergies can be for children and how testing for food allergies needs to be extremely accurate. It is staggering how widespread these food allergies and always seems to be increasing. Diagnosing the allergy is vital in order to help keep all these children safe and healthy.
Wonderful and touching tribute you did for Clarence Clemons on your broadcast Mr.Williams. Such a talent and gone far too soon.
Thank You for the broadcast Mr.Williams. Hope you had a nice Father's Day. Peace to You and to All!
Be Well Everyone!
Stay Extra,Extra Safe and Well Richard!
Take Extra Good Care Richard and Crew!
Lisa
Wow, this has been both difficult and preparing when my favorite band passes away, all at once or one at a time. I speak of Rush. (No, I'm not Canadian and never been there.)
But they've been more or less the "soundtrack of my life" since 1980. A couple years ago, I went to their 30th anniversary tour.I feel connected in a way I cannot express. I do play drums, but hardly comparable to (Professor) Neil Peart. I've liked other bands since I was twelve, but at 43, I found myself dancing in lawn seats in my lost count Rush count. I have grown up with them and have become just a bit Canadian in the process. I'm sure they have no idea how they've impressed the youth of this country, and still do...skilled musicians playing rock..
Didn't listen to Bruce Springsteen, but I can foresee the horrific pain...
Janice
Where are my manners? I am so sorry for Mr. Clemons passing. How many people get to leave this world doing what they love?
Janice
I too am a Jersey Boy and fellow member of the E Street Nation now living in Texas. My wife and I had an opportunity to meet Clarence several years ago at a small club in Jupiter, Florida. We were visiting my Uncle in North Palm Beach and while reading the morning paper saw that Clarence was going to be performing that evening. We got there early and found two seats open at the bar close to the stage. There was only one table between us and the stage. They ended up seating Clarence's family members at that table. Clarence had to stand right between my wife and I in order to visit his family between sets. He graciously spent a few minutes talking to us. I reminised about the places I had seen him perform along the Jersey shore back in the 70's (when the drinking age was still 18). He loved my wife's Texas accent. I shook his (huge) hand and my wife patted him on his (huge) chest. She could not resist. He couldn't have been nicer and did not make us feel like we were intruding in the least. We feel so fortunate to have that personal moment with him but it does not help fill the void we now have in our hearts. RIP Big Man.
Thank you so much for taking the time to pay tribute to our dear friend Clarence Clemons. Even though I only knew him for 3+ hours every few years, I felt like he was truly an important part of my life. Thank you for shedding light on this truly Big Man with the Big Heart and Big Soul. We will miss him so.
Thank you for an excellant and sincere blog and nightly news segment. We have lost a great person and a great sound. I have been thinking since the announcement, how hard this must be for Bruce and the Band, to loose an old and dear friend is painful. Our own mortality confronts us.
On a more positive note, we will be able to enjoy that beautiful sax sound for years to come, but it will bitter sweet.
thank you for keeping your Jersey roots... a Jersey Girl.
It really is sad, on a few levels. Not only do many of us (obviously wrongly) think of Clarence as a sort-of family member, this also actually impacts fans directly. For some of us, seeing Bruce/E Street Band shows is a high point -- a serious high point, involving unmitigated joy, spirituality, and meaning -- of our lives. It is something we always look forward to, even when there is no tour going on. It gives us a degree of purpose and meaning. Clarence's death means we will never have this experience again, even if the E Street Band does tour. Not only will Clarence, with his imposing, upfront presence, not be there, but Clarence also had a significant effect on Bruce on stage -- he added the soul to Bruce's presence -- and so Clarence's absence means Bruce will no longer be the same (on stage). In other words, this is an actual end to an important part of my life.
(I know it's not like losing a father or spouse. But it is real nonetheless.)
Thank you from a Jersey Girl - born and bred, still and always - for the beautiful sentiments in tonight's broadcast. In April of 2001, I thought I'd never cry again as I did over the loss of Joey Ramone. Again, in 2005, when Dr. Thompson left us, I thought I'd never feel it in my soul again. There have been many to whom I've said 'Selah'. I'm crying all over again and aching over the loss of The Big Man, who predated Joey and Hunter and so many others. Every time someone good and true stops contributing to the oxygen, I say "AKSB" - and Kissinger still breathes. Sorry for the rambling. Thanks for the words and the pictures and for going to The Stone Pony for those of us who couldn't make it. You are Jersey Boy Does Good. Be well.
On Saturday evening when I heard the news about Clarence, I was so sad and realized it would be impossible for Bruce to fill the Big Man's shoes. I can't imagine a Bruce concert without Clarence. Bruce must be devastated. I'll never forget an image projected large on the concert screen a few years ago: a close up of Bruce's white hand intertwined with Clarence's black hand. Such a statement of friendship knowing no limitations or boundaries.
Knowing you as well as one can from TV appearances, I was certain you would do a loving tribute in tonight's newscast. You did not disappoint. Made me choke up to hear you were moved enough to go to the Stone Pony. If I lived close enough, I would have been there too.
Love you and your humanity. Love you on Nightly News, love you on Jimmy Fallon, love you on Letterman. Just plain love you.
We watch you every night as part of our evening routine. We're news junkies, and you're the best. Your tribute tonight to the Big Man was phenomenal. There's something about music that brings us all together and soothes our souls. Bruce is a master and you said it straight up -- Clarence was a giant of a man. We live in Idaho, so I don't know the places you mention on the Jersey Shore, but Bruce always made them sound like special places he called home. RIP Clarence. We will miss you and your saxophone.
Your tribute to Clarence was perfect. As Cathy said above, love your humanity.
Thank you so much for the wonderful tribute on NBC Nightly News. All Sunday I was hoping proper tributes on the networks, but I should've know Brian Williams would come through for us. Brian, extra props for not breaking down in tears as you read that outro; I know I would have!
Thank you, Brian for tonight's tribute....as always, eloquent, classy, and spot on...a fitting tribute to Clarence, and a bit of a salve for those of us in the E Street Nation who are from New Jersey...well done....and, Goodnight, Big Man.....
Ann RN
Thank you, Brian for tonight's tribute....as always, eloquent, classy, and spot on...a fitting tribute to Clarence, and a bit of a salve for those of us in the E Street Nation who are from New Jersey...well done....and, Goodnight, Big Man.....
Thanks for that report Brian. We've known for years how dedicated you are to Bruce and the band and really appreciate your heartfelt reports. We're from Asbury and live in FL not far from Singer Island and now miss him both here and during our regular visits to the Jersey Shore. Your interviews and reports always keep us connected and we appreciate that. We've met Clarence many times and will miss him a lot. Mark & Joan (Lip Man and the Lips)
Lip Man and the Lips
Thanks for that report Brian. We've known for years how dedicated you are to Bruce and the band and really appreciate your heartfelt reports. We're from Asbury and live in FL not far from Singer Island and now miss him both here and during our regular visits to the Jersey Shore. Your interviews and reports always keep us connected and we appreciate that. We've met Clarence many times and will miss him a lot. Mark & Joan (Lip Man and the Lips)
I don't know what to say because when you grow up with the East Street Band it's a part of you. The short time Bruce attended school at the shore it was just Bruce and then we grew up and we had Bruce and the East Street Band. Yes as people around the world paid top dollar to see the group in concert us locals got to see the group for free. The Stony Pony was home and family. Clarence gave from his heart and his love for the music could be heard in every note. The Convention Hall rocked and everyone was on their feet singing along. For those who didn't know Clarence or the East Street Band well they were the boys from the Jersey shore. I enjoyed listening to Clarence and President Clinton play music together. Brian we have memories that live forever and Clarence is alive as long as the music plays on.
have a safe and good night all
Dear Brian: Thank you for your beautiful tribute to The Big Man tonight. I, like you, feel a tremendous loss. I'm the same age as you, and so my high school years and after were filled with music from Bruce and the Band, as well as Southside Johnny and the Jukes. My Mom's '69 Impala was the first car I drove ("I gotta 69 Chevy with a 396.......") and I drove listening to that wailing, soulful sax and loving every minute of it. Thanks again for your tribute. PS I too, am familiar w/The Trade Winds (a great place). Also, found out tonight that Kevin Kavanaugh, keyboard player and founding member of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes passed away the first week in June at age 58. May they rest in peace.
I was so sad to hear of Clarence Clemons' passing and I knew you'd have a wonderful tribute. A great talent has passed on, but his music and legacy will last forever.
By the way, one of my all time favorite songs with The Big Man, and Bruce isn't anywhere to be found: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x44v5n_clarence-clemons-jackson-browne
Brian, I like most members of E Street nation are saddened & heartbroken over clarence's passing. Losing clarence is like losing a member of your family, it's that deep a connection. He brought alive songs such as thunder road, jungleland, prove it all night, long walk home and so many other fantastic songs. I'm so glad that i've seen bruce & e street so many times in concert that I will always cherish the wonderful memories of many songs and shows. God Bless you Clarence, you will never be forgotten.