Saxophonist Clarence Clemons, a University of Maryland Eastern Shore alumnus who became a legendary rock ‘n roll musician over the past four decades, died Saturday of complications from a stroke. He was 69.
Affectionately known to fans and admirers as the “Big Man,” Clemons was hospitalized after becoming ill at his home in Florida June 12. Born Jan. 11, 1942 in Norfolk, Va., Clemons came to Princess Anne in the early 1960s as a music education major and to play football. His passing triggered an outpouring of tributes by news organizations reporting on his death with lengthy obituaries accompanied by photos of him playing his tenor sax. Some published reports also featured pictures of him playing college football at his alma mater, where he was a team captain his senior year.
Clemons burst into the national conscientiousness in the 1970s as the charismatic saxophonist for the E Street Band, the group that backed up the renowned Bruce Springsteen. The band’s 1975 breakthrough album – Born to Run – featured Springsteen on the cover leaning on Clemons – an image of a black man and white man who shared a love of rock n’ roll that would define their careers and their relationship for the rest of their lives. On hearing of Clemons’ death, Springsteen posted this reaction on his website: “We are honored and thankful to have known him and had the opportunity to stand beside him for nearly 40 years,” Springsteen wrote. “He was my great friend, my partner and with Clarence at my side, my band and I were able to tell a story far deeper than those simply contained in our music. His life, his memory, and his love will live on in that story and in our band.” Clemons was scheduled to appear at a scholarship fund-raiser at UMES with other celebrities in March 2010, but had to cancel because he was still recovering from back surgery he underwent in January of that year. He rallied to return to his alma mater two months later and received an honorary degree at the annual spring graduation.
Clemons described May 21, 2010 as “a very special day in my life” in a note posted on his Twitter social media site. During the commencement ceremony, he volunteered to play “Garden of Memories” on his ever-present saxophone, dedicating the song to deceased alumni. Kimberly Dumpson, UMES’ Alumni Affairs and Planned Giving director, told The (Salisbury. MD) Daily Times that his May 2010 visit to campus was his first since his undergraduate days and he “enjoyed reminiscing, especially about football.”
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