Clarence Clemons recalled in old N.J. haunt

(AP) 

ASBURY PARK, N.J. - Scores of fans gathered Sunday at a legendary rock club to mourn the death and celebrate the life and music of saxophonist Clarence Clemons.

The Stone Pony in Asbury Park was the place where Clemons, Bruce Springsteen and other E Street band mates got their musical starts. It opened its doors to a crowd of about 150 people, many adorned in Springsteen T-shirts.

A makeshift vigil got under way at the club late Saturday as word spread of Clemons' death from complications of a stroke he had suffered about a week earlier at his home in Singer Island, Florida. By Sunday afternoon, the stage was adorned with Clemons photos.

Clarence Clemons dies from stroke complications
Photos: Clarence Clemons: 1942-2011

Fans were lining up to snap pictures and leave flowers to honor Clemons. He was known as the Big Man, a nod to his physical size, stage presence and booming sax notes.

Within hours of Clemons' death on Saturday night, fans slowly began stopping by the club, which was hosting an unrelated act catering to a younger crowd. Flowers, a candle and a handwritten sign saying "RIP Big Man" soon sprouted outside the building, and more items were added throughout the night and on Sunday.

Gary Mottola, who owns the Stone Pony, said Sunday that the E Street Band was "the soul of Asbury Park" and that Clemons was the soul of the band. Mottola said that when the city fell on hard times, it was the energy from the band's performances that kept it alive.

Fans who attended the gathering had similar views, fondly recalling the impact Springsteen and Clemons had on their lives.

"One of our first dates was a Bruce concert," said Cyndi Matts of Little Silver, recalling the night more than a quarter-century ago when she and her now-husband heard the band perform the song "Jungleland."

"When he had that solo and everyone put their hands up - it still gives me chills," Matts said.

Clemons' raucous sax solos helped define the Jersey shore sound of the '70s and '80s, a genre that also included Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, and occasionally, a young Jon Bon Jovi. He was a vital part of the E Street Band and loyally served for decades with Springsteen, whom he met in 1971 on the New Jersey bar band circuit.

Kyle Brendle, the house promoter at the Stone Pony, said Springsteen and Clemons played routinely at the club in the 1970s - but usually as unannounced acts. He said the last time Clemons performed at the club was at a solo show in the summer of 2006.

[scubbasteve01]

CLARENCE CLEMONS
1942-2011

They called him the Big Man, 6 foot 5, huge stage presence and a soulful way of playing
the saxophone that started on a dark cold stormy night in New Jersey that blew off the
door of the Stone Pony. A former football player who was injured in a car accident and had to
figure out at the time which direction his life would eventually go in.
Clemons was the sound of many great Springsteen songs and
if you were a Springsteen fan like I was you will understand what I'm talking about.
'' JungleLand.'' Dancing In the Dark.'' '' Jane Don't You Lose Heart.'' '' Murder, Inc.''
The soulful whine of his sax on PINK CADILLAC and Jersey Girl actually making it
a very romantic sound to listen to along with the Spirit In The Night.
Rosalita ( Come Out Tonight) will never sound the same again after this lost.
But we still have the music, the history and great memories to still Rock N' Roll too.
Springsteen and the E Street Band came along in the 70's followed by later on by other
local groups like Robert Hazard and the Heroes, Southside Johnny and the Ashbury Jukes.
So who's the new Romeo? There's only one Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
His work with Aretha Franklin on '' Freeway Of Love'' and Jackson Browne's '' Friend Of Mine''
are still 2 singles that still sound as fresh today when they were first released to the public.
But that single still makes you wonder what if he had recorded it with Bruce?
I'm sorry that the two of them never took the time out to do a remake. It would've been nice
to hear it.
Rest In Peace Big Man you maybe gone but we can still hear that saxophone singing.

[trueblueusa]

The Big Man
Wrote " You`re a Friend of Mine "
for and about Bruce S.
but Bruce was Too busy to record with C. C.
So Jackson Browne did it !

[Jhihmoac]

The Pony launched a lot of music careers...still does...