The 'Born to Run' hitmaker said the musician – who appeared in Bruce's E Street Band –would leave an "immeasurable" gap in his life and thanked him for the opportunity to work alongside him for the last 40 years.

In a statement on his website, Bruce said: "It is with overwhelming sadness that we inform our friends and fans that at 7pm tonight, Saturday, June 18, our beloved friend and bandmate, Clarence Clemons passed away.

"The cause was complications from his stroke of last Sunday, June 12. Clarence lived a wonderful life. He carried within him a love of people that made them love him.

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"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 honoured and thankful to have known him and had the opportunity to stand beside him for nearly 40 years."

Despite suffering ill health in recent years, Clarence continued to be in the public eye, most recently appearing with Lady Gaga on the season finale of 'American Idol' and in the video for her latest single 'The Edge of Glory'.

Earlier this week, Gaga asked her fans to make "get will videos" for the saxophone player following his stroke.

She wrote on twitter: "Little monsters, my very close friend +musician on The Edge of Glory, Clarence Clemons is very sick. Can we all make some get well videos?"
Clarence was married five times and fathered four sons.