Clarence Clemons, The Big Man, Bruce Springteen's Best Bud Dead!

Well it's a sad day for music lovers all over as reports of Clarence Clemons death trickle in from every news source. He died this weekend from complications of a stroke he had earlier this week. Clarence Clemons was to Springsteen what Bernie Taupin is to Elton John, or Keith Richards to Mick Jagger. They met when Springsteen was just starting his career, hit it off and have been bandmates/buddies eversince. They had a partnership more lasting than John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and produced a body of work that made them both legends in their lifetime. Springsteen is the type of musical act you don't get much anymore, someone who didn't just wanna' be a rock star but had a cause they wanted to champion. They wanted to change the world with music and in a little way they did; they showed a black man and a white man could treat each other like brothers and create something wonderful in this world called the E Street Band. The millions of records sold worldwide and sold-out arena tours are proof of the power and efficacy of this partnership/friendship as they inspired many rock'n'rolla out there that music could do more than just entertain party-goers. It could have a purpose and that's the cornerstone of my musical vision personally too. Oh there are plenty of R&B singers, rappers, etc. out there with relevant messages in their music. But my inspiration came from Born in the USA and that record along with John Mellancamp's 'Pink Houses' inspired me to become a rock'n'roller. They also inspired others too (the Dave Matthews Band, John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band, John Mellancamp)and though the Big Man is gone, his body of work with the Boss will live on in perpetuity. RIP Big Man.