By Alicia Cruz
Staff writer
The New Jersey Newsroom.com
E Street Band saxophonist, philanthropist and author Clarence "Big Man" Clemons, took to the stage again Saturday to host the annual gala and silent auction “The Classic” benefiting the children's charity "Home Safe" at the Seminole Hard Rock Cafe and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
After Clemons, 68, was brought to the stage, he rose from his wheelchair -- saxophone cradled in his lap -- and hollered, "I'm huge!"
"The stage always feels like home. It's where I belong," said Clemons, a former football lineman who once received an offer to try out for the Cleveland Browns.
He switched to his cane, and struggled up three stairs to the stage top. Fellow rockers Steve Smith and the Nakeds' heralded his arrival by cranking up "Tenth Avenue Freezeout," which relates how "The Big Man" joined the band and the "little pretties raised their hands."
Over 500 Home Safe supporters attended the gala, which featured a live and silent auction and a celebrity jam featuring the big man himself along with fellow members of the E Street Band Steven Van Zandt and Max Weinberg. Guests dined in classic red carpet style while 8-year-old Violin prodigy Brianna Kahane performed during dinner.
Throughout his jam with Van Zandt and Weinberg, Clemons remained seated, tapping his right foot in agile rhythm, but rose to his feet in order to present Hard Rock Cafe and Casino boss Jim Allen with the E Street album "Born to Run" along with one of his prized saxophones.
Clemons, who was in high spirits Saturday night as he sang and played his sax despite his delicate condition after undergoing major spinal surgery four months ago, doubled as host and honoree at the event. With wife Victoria seated next to him, Clemons accepted the prestigious President's Call to Service Award for his years of volunteerism with the Home Safe charity.
"This is the highest honor I, as a civilian, could receive," said Clemons, "I'm so appreciative and I'm so happy that I could earn this by being myself. You can be yourself by continuing to help the children. Thank you for this honor."
After accepting his award, Clemons, a native of Norfolk, Virginia was once again honored with a performance by Producer/songwriter Narada Michael Walden in the spirit of Neil Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World."
Clemons may be ferocious on his sax, but shows true altruism when it comes to the children thus his nickname "the big man with the big heart."
"It’s all about the children first," said Clemons.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW SLIDE SHOW OF PHOTOS FROM THE CLASSIC GALA
Although Clemons says this will be his fifth, and final year as host of the Home Safe event, he added, "I'm not turning my back, I'm not quitting. I'm just changing job descriptions, but I'm still going to help out... Look, I'm here tonight, but I really should be at home in bed."
Clemons departure isn't really a departure; it's more like a step back as he plans to remain involved in the organization in an unofficial capacity. The tenor saxist plans to keep busy with writing (he's a best-selling author of "Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales") and other creative projects.
The big man, who lived in Newark between 1962 and 1970 while he worked as a counselor at the Jamesburg Training School for Boys, is legally blind in one eye, but said, "God will give you no more than you can handle. This is all a test to see if you are really ready for the good things that are going to come in your life. All this pain is going to come back and make me stronger. Of all the surgeries I've had, there's not much left to operate on. I am totally bionic."
DMC (Darryl McDaniels), half of the legendary hip hop duo, RUN-DMC, served as master of ceremonies at the charity gala and performed Run DMC's classic "Walk this Way" during the evening.
Others who joined Clemons Saturday night include band mate Weinberg, Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain, former New York Giants defensive end Leonard Marshall, Sean Kenniff, a Miami doctor who appeared on the first Survivor back in 2000, Actress Nanci Filipelli, Florida Atlantic University basketball coach Mike Jarvis and music producers John Colby and Dennis Lambert.
To learn more about the Palm Beach County non-profit organization, Home Safe, which provides services for abandoned children, click here
Staff writer
The New Jersey Newsroom.com
E Street Band saxophonist, philanthropist and author Clarence "Big Man" Clemons, took to the stage again Saturday to host the annual gala and silent auction “The Classic” benefiting the children's charity "Home Safe" at the Seminole Hard Rock Cafe and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
After Clemons, 68, was brought to the stage, he rose from his wheelchair -- saxophone cradled in his lap -- and hollered, "I'm huge!"
"The stage always feels like home. It's where I belong," said Clemons, a former football lineman who once received an offer to try out for the Cleveland Browns.
He switched to his cane, and struggled up three stairs to the stage top. Fellow rockers Steve Smith and the Nakeds' heralded his arrival by cranking up "Tenth Avenue Freezeout," which relates how "The Big Man" joined the band and the "little pretties raised their hands."
Over 500 Home Safe supporters attended the gala, which featured a live and silent auction and a celebrity jam featuring the big man himself along with fellow members of the E Street Band Steven Van Zandt and Max Weinberg. Guests dined in classic red carpet style while 8-year-old Violin prodigy Brianna Kahane performed during dinner.
Throughout his jam with Van Zandt and Weinberg, Clemons remained seated, tapping his right foot in agile rhythm, but rose to his feet in order to present Hard Rock Cafe and Casino boss Jim Allen with the E Street album "Born to Run" along with one of his prized saxophones.
Clemons, who was in high spirits Saturday night as he sang and played his sax despite his delicate condition after undergoing major spinal surgery four months ago, doubled as host and honoree at the event. With wife Victoria seated next to him, Clemons accepted the prestigious President's Call to Service Award for his years of volunteerism with the Home Safe charity.
"This is the highest honor I, as a civilian, could receive," said Clemons, "I'm so appreciative and I'm so happy that I could earn this by being myself. You can be yourself by continuing to help the children. Thank you for this honor."
After accepting his award, Clemons, a native of Norfolk, Virginia was once again honored with a performance by Producer/songwriter Narada Michael Walden in the spirit of Neil Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World."
Clemons may be ferocious on his sax, but shows true altruism when it comes to the children thus his nickname "the big man with the big heart."
"It’s all about the children first," said Clemons.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW SLIDE SHOW OF PHOTOS FROM THE CLASSIC GALA
Although Clemons says this will be his fifth, and final year as host of the Home Safe event, he added, "I'm not turning my back, I'm not quitting. I'm just changing job descriptions, but I'm still going to help out... Look, I'm here tonight, but I really should be at home in bed."
Clemons departure isn't really a departure; it's more like a step back as he plans to remain involved in the organization in an unofficial capacity. The tenor saxist plans to keep busy with writing (he's a best-selling author of "Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales") and other creative projects.
The big man, who lived in Newark between 1962 and 1970 while he worked as a counselor at the Jamesburg Training School for Boys, is legally blind in one eye, but said, "God will give you no more than you can handle. This is all a test to see if you are really ready for the good things that are going to come in your life. All this pain is going to come back and make me stronger. Of all the surgeries I've had, there's not much left to operate on. I am totally bionic."
DMC (Darryl McDaniels), half of the legendary hip hop duo, RUN-DMC, served as master of ceremonies at the charity gala and performed Run DMC's classic "Walk this Way" during the evening.
Others who joined Clemons Saturday night include band mate Weinberg, Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain, former New York Giants defensive end Leonard Marshall, Sean Kenniff, a Miami doctor who appeared on the first Survivor back in 2000, Actress Nanci Filipelli, Florida Atlantic University basketball coach Mike Jarvis and music producers John Colby and Dennis Lambert.
To learn more about the Palm Beach County non-profit organization, Home Safe, which provides services for abandoned children, click here
LINKS
All About Clarence "The Big Man" Clemons
Clarence Clemons, The ins and outs
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