Clarence Clemons Suffers Stroke

UPDATE, June 18, 2011: Clarence Clemons passed away on Saturday evening.

From BruceSpringsteen.net:

It is with overwhelming sadness that we inform our friends and fans that at 7:00 tonight, Saturday, June 18, our beloved friend and bandmate, Clarence Clemons passed away. The cause was complications from his stroke of last Sunday, June 12th.

Bruce Springsteen said of Clarence: Clarence lived a wonderful life. He carried within him a love of people that made them love him. He created a wondrous and extended family. He loved the saxophone, loved our fans and gave everything he had every night he stepped on stage. His loss is immeasurable and we are honored and thankful to have known him and had the opportunity to stand beside him for nearly forty years. He was my great friend, my partner, and 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.

__________________

UPDATE, June 14, 2011: Springsteen: Band mate Clemons' stroke 'serious'

Bruce Springsteen says band mate Clarence Clemons' stroke was serious and he's going to need a lot of help to get back to his former self.

The Boss commented Tuesday on his longtime friend and E Street Band member on his website, Twitter and Facebook. It's the first time he's spoken since it was revealed Sunday that the 69-year-old Clemons had suffered a stroke.

Springsteen calls the saxophonist a "beloved comrade" and described the stroke as "serious."

He says: "Clarence will need much care and support to achieve his potential once again."

Springsteen says Clemons is surrounded by wife Victoria, other family and friends, and thanked fans for their prayers and good thoughts.

Clemons' family also thanked fans on Springsteen's site and urged fans to email their well wishes to notestoclarence(at)clarenceclemons.com.

Here's more, from Bruce Springsteen's website:

By now, many of you have heard that our beloved comrade and sax player Clarence Clemons has suffered a serious stroke. While all initial signs are encouraging, Clarence will need much care and support to achieve his potential once again. He has his wonderfully supportive wife, Victoria, excellent doctors and health care professionals, and is surrounded by friends and family.

I thank you all for your prayers and positive energy and concern. This is a time for us all to share in a hopeful spirit that can ultimately inspire Clarence to greater heights.

-- Bruce Springsteen

Apparently, the stroke's severity and its consequences have left Clarence with a challenging recovery.

I'm joining people around the world praying for him.

God be with Clarence and his family.
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From the Associated Press:

Saxophonist Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band has suffered a stroke.

A person who has worked with Clemons in the past confirmed Sunday night that Clemons had the stroke. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the matter. The person had no additional information on Clemons' condition.

Clemons is known as the Big Man in the E Street Band and his sax has been one of the most defining elements of the band's sound. He has suffered from numerous ailments over the last few years. He had double knee surgery and even had to perform from a wheelchair at one point.

But his health seemed to be improving. Just last month, he performed with Lady Gaga on the season finale of "American Idol."

He is 69 years old.

Prayers for the Big Man.

Naima Adedapo, American Idol

Milwaukee's Naima Adedapo was voted off American Idol on Thursday.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Milwaukee singer Naima Adedapo left "American Idol" after failing to capture enough votes to remain on the show - the first of two casualties Thursday night.

Thia Megia, the 16-year-old from Hayward, Calif., also was voted off. Two contestants were marked for departure because the judges saved the scruffy-headed, scraggly-bearded Casey Abrams last week when his version of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" earned the fewest number of votes. Abrams trimmed his generous amount of hair - an event given its own vignette on the show Wednesday - and avoided elimination with a performance of "Your Song" Wednesday.

The public's response to Adedapo's showings on "Idol" has been mixed. Some displays, such as last week's performance of "Dancing In The Street," mesmerized viewers with her powerful presence and a dazzling African dance that hearken back to her days with the Ton Ko-Thi, the children's ensemble of the Ko-Thi Dance Company in Milwaukee.

But this week her rendition of Elton John's "I'm Still Standing" was slammed by "Idol" judge Randy Jackson as corny. And bloggers noted that her reggae-inflected island accent came off as inauthentic because she doesn't speak - or normally sing - with one at all.

"I am very proud of her," Adekola Adedapo, Naima Adedapo's mother, said Thursday evening. "The outpouring of support has been tremendous. She wants to return the love."

Although the Idol competition is over for Naima Adedapo, she did make the Top 11 - meaning she'll be on the American Idol Tour.

Being in the Top 11 is a tremendous accomplishment.

Naima, a 2003 graduate of St. Joan Antida High School in Milwaukee, has every reason to be proud. She's a very talented and very classy young woman.

Congratulations, Naima!

Casey Abrams and Jimmy Fallon

Last week, Casey Abrams was almost voted off American Idol. The judges used their "save" on Abrams and he survived to sing another week.

However, sensing his days on Idol may be numbered, Casey Abrams has been doing product endorsements. Some were shown on Wednesday's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Watch the video: