Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 11th January!
Clarence Clemons and Bruce Springsteen
Happy birthdy to Mr. Clarence Anicholas Clemons, Jr., better nown as „The Big Man“ and more better known as the tenor saxophone player of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band from 1972 until his passing in 2011. Clarence was born on the 11th January 1942 in Norfolk County, Virginia (USA).
At the age of nine, his father gave him an alto saxophone as a Christmas present and Clarence received music lessons. Over the years he switched to the baritone and finally to the tenor saxophone. In his youth, Clemons was an excellent football player and due to a serious car accident, his plans becoming a pro were annihilated. His first recording sessions took place in 1960 and one year later he joined his first band called „The Vibratones“ (until 1965). In the meantime Clarence Clemons has moved to Newark, New Jersey, where he also worked as a counselor for emotionally disturbed children at the Jamesburg Training School (from 1962 – 1970).
In September 1971, Clarence Clemons and Bruce Springsteen met the very first time. Listen and watch, what Clarence is talking about this historic meeting:
Bruce Springsteen started in July 1972 to record his debut ebut album „Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.„. During recording breaks he also jammed with Clemons at some occasions and after that, he decided to use a tenor saxophone on the songs „Blinded by the Light“ and „Spirit in the Night„. This was the start of a long cooperation and a deep friendship which holded on until Clemons‘ passing in 2011.
Clemons‘ final recordings are featured on the Springsteen album „Wrecking Ball„, which was released in 2012. On the 12th June 2011, Carence suffered a stroke and only six days later, on the 18th June, he died of complication from it at the age of 69 years.
When I worked for the Austrian independent radio station B138 I invited several musicians for special radio performances – here you can stream some of the wonderful shows – enjoy!
In November 2009 Andrea Schroeder was our live guest for the radio show „Unerhört Spezial“ – stream it here:
The Songs:
„Blackbird“ (Studio)
„Blackbird“ (live)
„Rainlight“ (live)
„Farmen“ (from the Farmen album „Farmen“)
„Ghost Ship“ (live)
„Bebop Blues“ (Studio)
„Dark Nightingales“ (live)
„My Heart is just a Song“ (live)
„Then“ (live)
„Fly me to the Sky“ (Studio)
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In February 2010 Austrian musician Manuel Normal was our live guest – stream this very special unplugged show here:
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In 2010 Jazz singer Marina Zettl was our live guest – stream this very special unplugged show here:
The Songs:
1. Wonderful Day (live)
2. Too close (from „Fikus„)
3. Almost written (live)
4. Ride the Tide (from „Fikus„)
5. Fikus (live)
6. Love on a Landline (live)
7. Goodbye (from „Fikus„)
Line Up: Marina Zettl – Vocals
Thomas Mauerhofer – Guitar
Christian Bakanic – Accordion
ACHTUNG: The interview is in German!
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Also in 2010 the Austrian band Dealer performed in the studio of the radio b138 – stream this unplugged session here:
The Songs:
1. Dig a Hole (Studio Version)
2. Dig a Hole (live Unplugged at Radio B138)
3. Ain’t getting better (Studio Version)
4. Ain’t getting better (live Unplugged at Radio B138)
5. Desperately united (Studio Version)
6. Cocain Woman (live Unplugged at Radio B138)
7. Remedy (THE BLACK CROWES)
8. This is not California (live Unplugged at Radio B138)
9. The Weight (The Band Cover) (live Unplugged at Radio B138)
10. Coming ‚round again (live)
ACHTUNG: The interview is in German!
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In August 2010 Austrian musician Agnès Milewski was our live guest – stream this very special unplugged show here:
The Songs:
1. Ready steady go (Studio Version)
2. Chasing the Wind (live)
3. One God for me (Studio Version)
4. Learn to swim (live)
5. Falling from Grace (live)
6. Ugly duckling (live)
7. Not Andrea (Studio Version)
8. For Lucifer, the fallen (live)
Shortly after this show singer Medina Rekic was our guest and we did an interview, Medina played some of her favorite songs and also did a very fine unplugged solo performance!
For the Austrian independent radio station B138 I hosted the programme called „Unerhört„. It was a weekly feature and broadcasted 72 times. Here is a small selection of my personal favorites and for your streaming pleasure – enjoy 😉
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Follow this link to stream/download my radio show called “Die musikalische Buchstabensupe eines Melomanen”, which I hosted also for the Austrian independent radio station B138. It’s a series through my private music collection from A (like AC/DC) until Z (like ZZ Top). Also I recorded some other broadcasts, like a special about the release of Johnny Cash’s album “American Recordings VI – Ain’t No Grave” (ed. 2010) which features also some speeches of John Carter Cash, the son of the Man in Black. Also I did two broadcasts which features my personal favorites of the year 2010 – like Woven Hand, Munly & The Lupercalians, Clan Edison or Murder By Death. Tune in and enjoy!
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