I've been singing Tenth Avenue Freeze Out all morning!!
I am so sad to hear this news. At the same time, though, I am relieved he did not linger after such a massive stroke. He was such a gifted musician and really love-endearing human being. May he rest in peace.
Who remembers their first Springsteen concert? I don't actually, but know it was either '77 or '78, here in DC (Maryland, actually, at the old Capital Center). Every album, every tour. Once, I saw them in three cities on the same tour (ahh ... those college days!).
I bought my first E Street band album in 1975. Springsteen and Clemons were together longer than many marriages survive -- longer than their own first marriages survived -- 40 years!
Here's the obit from this morning's Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/clarence-clemons-dies-springsteen-sax-man/2011/06/15/AGX2eoaH_story.html