Clarence Clemons, the influencial saxophonist from Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, passed away Saturday night from complications from of a stroke. He was 69 years old.
The soulful Springsteen sidekick, known as “Big Man,” helped craft the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band’s signature sound with his jazz, soul and blues inspired brand of rock.
“He was my great friend, my partner,” Springsteen said in a statement. “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.”
The towering 6’4″, 250 pound musician shared a special onstage bond with Springsteen and was an integral part of the band’s immense success. He often received the loudest ovation during band introductions at concerts around the world.
His influence was vital to the multi-platinum band and his unique style was exemplified on smash hits such as “Born to Run,” “Thunder Road,” and “Badlands.”
Information from CNN.com was used to create this report.
