Musician. He began playing saxophone as a boy and attended Maryland State College on music and football scholarships. An auto accident shortly before a tryout with the Cleveland Browns ended his hopes for a football career, and he concentrated on music while also working as a counselor at a New Jersey facility for emotionally disturbed boys. After years of playing in bar bands and as a session musician, Clemons met Bruce Springsteen in 1971, an event immortalized in the Springsteen song "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out." Clemons gained fame as a key component of Springsteen's E Street Band, with his saxophone solos making up vital parts of songs including "Thunder Road," "Darkness on the Edge of Town," "Jungleland," "Born to Run," "Born in the U.S.A.," and many others. In addition, Clemons enjoyed a noteworthy solo career, releasing several well received albums and playing on songs by numerous other artists, including a duet with Jackson Browne titled "You're a Friend of Mine," from Clemons' debut solo album, "Hero" (1985) that was a Top 20 hit single. Clemons also acted, including parts in the film "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" (1989) and the television shows "Diff'rent Strokes," "My Wife and Kids," and "The Wire." In 2014, Clemons was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the E Street Band under the Award for Musical Excellence category.
Musician. He began playing saxophone as a boy and attended Maryland State College on music and football scholarships. An auto accident shortly before a tryout with the Cleveland Browns ended his hopes for a football career, and he concentrated on music while also working as a counselor at a New Jersey facility for emotionally disturbed boys. After years of playing in bar bands and as a session musician, Clemons met Bruce Springsteen in 1971, an event immortalized in the Springsteen song "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out." Clemons gained fame as a key component of Springsteen's E Street Band, with his saxophone solos making up vital parts of songs including "Thunder Road," "Darkness on the Edge of Town," "Jungleland," "Born to Run," "Born in the U.S.A.," and many others. In addition, Clemons enjoyed a noteworthy solo career, releasing several well received albums and playing on songs by numerous other artists, including a duet with Jackson Browne titled "You're a Friend of Mine," from Clemons' debut solo album, "Hero" (1985) that was a Top 20 hit single. Clemons also acted, including parts in the film "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" (1989) and the television shows "Diff'rent Strokes," "My Wife and Kids," and "The Wire." In 2014, Clemons was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the E Street Band under the Award for Musical Excellence category.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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