SoundPress.net Feature Article: Clarence Clemons - The Big Man Tells Tall Tales (Event Review)

The Big Man's Real Life and Tall Tales:
At the Clarence Clemons Book Signing in Ridgewood, NJ
A SoundPress.net Feature Article by Pat Cacioppo

During their historical building wrecking 5-night stand at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, it was announced by Bruce Springsteen that his long time band mate and E Street saxophone player Clarence "Big Man" Clemons was now an author. Bruce held up for the cameras to be projected on the jumbo screens, a copy of Clarence's book titled Big Man: Real Life and Tall Tales. Needless to say, I was very happy when we found out that Clarence would be signing copies of this book in person a few weeks later at the book store only two miles from my house.

Clarence Clemons in Ridgewood, New Jersey. (Photo by Erin Fallin)

So, on the morning of Saturday, October 24th, fighting a nasty ear infection and the rain I made my way over to Bookends in Ridgewood, NJ. I was one of the first 50 in line, soon afterwards to be joined by my good friends Erin and Jenn. Bookends was very accommodating to the early arrivers, allowing us to "camp out" in their dry warm basement while we waited the three hours or so for Clarence to arrive. Hundreds of fans who got there later were less fortunate, having to stand out in the rain in a line that ran all the way down Ridgewood Avenue and wrapped around onto Maple.

The Big Man arrived promptly at 1 PM and the faithful were ushered up to the signing table for a brief chat and autograph. Don Reo, Clarence's long time close friend and co-author was also in attendance - and he also signed my book.

When I finally got up to the table to meet the Big Man he was almost the exact opposite of his "larger than life" intimidating image. He was extremely cordial, laid-back and soft spoken. This was my brief exchange while we shook hands:

PAT: Mr. Clemons, it's a great pleasure to meet you!
CLARENCE: And it's a pleasure to meet you!!
PAT: I have been a fan since you guys started and I just want to tell you that I think your solo in "Jungleland" might be the best minute and a half of recorded music of all time.
CLARENCE: (laughs) Really? Wow! That was a real hard piece to record, Bruce was such a perfectionist when it came to that.
DON REO: There's a whole piece in the book about recording that solo.
PAT: Well, I didn't get to it yet but I'm sure I will enjoy it. Thank you for all the great music and keep making it!!!
CLARENCE: We will!!!

And that was it.... Erin and Jenn got their few seconds with Clarence also and they were also very happy to finally meet him.

I am about 200 pages into the book, re-living the moments I knew well, finally putting to rest moments that I wondered about for years that Clarence has finally confirmed, and actually uttering a few "wows" at stuff I never knew about (the band played Sing Sing prison back in 1972!!). This is a light warm-hearted easy read that I would say is a must for any E Street fan. I am honored to have met the Big Man, another notch on my E Street belt having met Bruce, Patti, Max Weinberg and the late Danny Federici. I pray that I will keep on hearing that "Jungleland" solo for years to come.

On the Backstreets until the end!!!!
PAT CACIOPPO

The author of this article meets the writer and musician Clarence Clemons. (Photo by Erin Fallin)

Related Links: For more information on CLARENCE CLEMONS and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links -- ClarenceClemons.com | Book-Ends.com | Buy Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales | Search "Springsteen"

(Originally Published on November 07, 2009)

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