C.36:2-211 & 36:2-212 PL2013, Joint Resolution No. 9, Approved
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§§1,2 - C.36:2-211 & 36:2-212 P.L.2013, Joint Resolution No. 9, approved June 13, 2013 Senate Joint Resolution No. 38 1 A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the memory of Clarence Clemons 2 and designating January 11 of each year as “Clarence Clemons 3 Day” in New Jersey. 4 5 WHEREAS, Clarence A. Clemons, Jr., commonly known to his friends 6 and fans as “the Big Man,” was born on January 11, 1942 in 7 Norfolk County, Virginia and moved to New Jersey in the early 8 1960s, working as a counselor at the Jamesburg Training School for 9 Boys; and 10 WHEREAS, Clarence Clemons was an accomplished saxophone player 11 who, with artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Little Steven Van 12 Zandt, and Southside Johnny Lyon, popularized the “Jersey Shore 13 sound” genre of rock and roll that emanated from Asbury Park in 14 the 1970s; and 15 WHEREAS, In 1971, Clarence Clemons met Bruce Springsteen at The 16 Student Prince in Asbury Park and joined what would become New 17 Jersey’s most famous musical group, Bruce Springsteen and the E 18 Street Band, an event that would be immortalized in the song 19 “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” in which Mr. Springsteen sings, “the 20 change was made uptown and the Big Man joined the band”; and 21 WHEREAS, Clarence Clemons’ saxophone was an essential element to 22 the success of the E Street Band and is an irreplaceable part of 23 songs such as “Thundercrack,” “Jungleland,” “Badlands,” and 24 “Drive All Night”; and 25 WHEREAS, The close friendship between Bruce Springsteen and 26 Clarence Clemons is shown by the Big Man’s appearance on the 27 cover of the seminal album “Born to Run,” which shows Bruce 28 leaning against Clarence as the Big Man plays his saxophone; and 29 WHEREAS, During the E Street Band’s legendary live concerts 30 Clarence Clemons’ saxophone solos were highly anticipated and he 31 was always introduced last in the band introductions, to the delight 32 of the concertgoers who greeted his every move with roars of 33 approval; and 34 WHEREAS, When not working with the E Street Band, Clarence 35 Clemons was a successful film and television actor, the author of an 36 autobiography, and a performer who appeared with an eclectic 37 group of musicians including Ringo Starr, Aretha Franklin, Jackson 38 Browne, and most recently Lady Gaga; and 39 WHEREAS, Clarence Clemons would often appear for charitable 40 benefits and concerts at the iconic Jersey Shore music venue The 41 Stone Pony, in Asbury Park; and SJR38 2 1 WHEREAS, Clarence Clemons suffered numerous medical aliments 2 over the past few years, yet toured with the E Street Band as 3 recently as 2009 and was participating in an intense regimen of 4 rehabilitation in order to join the band for a tour in 2012, when he 5 passed away from complications of a stroke on June 18, 2011; and 6 WHEREAS, It is fitting and proper that the hard work, dedication, 7 achievements, and contributions of Clarence Clemons to New 8 Jersey’s musical heritage be recognized; now, therefore, 9 10 BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate and General Assembly of the 11 State of New Jersey: 12 13 1. January 11 of each year shall be designated “Clarence 14 Clemons Day” in the State of New Jersey in recognition of the 15 many accomplishments of Clarence Clemons and his artistic 16 contributions to this State. 17 18 2. The Governor is requested to annually issue a proclamation 19 calling upon public officials and citizens of this State to observe 20 “Clarence Clemons Day” with appropriate activities and programs. 21 22 3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately. 23 24 STATEMENT 25 26 This resolution designates January 11 of each year as “Clarence 27 Clemons Day” in memory of the E Street Band saxophone player 28 who passed away on June 18, 2011. 29 Clarence Clemons, commonly known as the “Big Man,” was an 30 original member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band and helped 31 popularize the “Jersey Shore sound” genre of rock music that 32 originated in Asbury Park in the 1970s. Clarence Clemons was a 33 key member of the E Street Band, and his saxophone solos were an 34 important element of both Springsteen’s studio records and live 35 concerts. Clarence Clemons made several appearances in movies 36 and on television. He also performed with a wide variety of 37 musicians such as Ringo Starr, Aretha Franklin, Jackson Browne, 38 and Lady Gaga. Clarence Clemons made numerous appearances, 39 with and without Bruce Springsteen, at the club The Stone Pony in 40 Asbury Park. In light of his extensive cultural contributions to the 41 State of New Jersey, it is fitting that the citizens of this State 42 remember Clarence Clemons on his birthday, January 11, of each 43 year. 44 45 46 47 Designates January 11 of each year as “Clarence Clemons Day.” .