Saxophonist Clarence "Big Man" Clemons received eulogies from friends and bandmates at a Tuesday funeral held at Royal Poinciana Chapel in Palm Beach. Clemons died last weekend from complications following a massive stroke at his home on Singer Island. He was 69.
According to the Associated Press, the service lasted roughly two hours. Attendees included Bruce Springsteen and wife Patti Scialfa, Jackson Browne, E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt, and photographer Eric Meola, who captured the Boss and the Big Man together for the cover of the 1975 landmark album Born to Run (pictured at right).
From an account by the Palm Beach Daily News, Springsteen performed a solo version of the song that recalls his first meeting with Clemons, "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out," and later spoke about his friend.
"Clarence was a man of unconditional love, but his love came with a lot ofAccording to a special request by Clemons, his fifth wife will scatter his ashes in Hawaii at a special spot -- with his previous wives.conditions," he said, drawing chuckles and murmurs of agreement from many in
the assemblage. "He was a complex guy... an ongoing project. But when you
were in his presence, it was like being in a sovereign nation."
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