Bruce Springsteen's legendary sax man Clarence Clemons had surgery to correct carpal tunnel issues in his hands a week before he died in June (11), according to his widow Victoria.
The late star's wife has opened up for the first time since the tragedy in a Rolling Stone interview and tells the publication the E Street Band star was a peaceful, loving man who brought her four years of joy.
Still coping with the grief following his death, Victoria reveals Clemons feared his days of playing the saxophone were numbered after he suffered numbness in his fingers.
She recalls, "Shortly before the stroke, Clarence lost sensation in his index finger and his thumb. He had carpal tunnel surgery performed. He was seriously concerned about the ability to play sax again."
And he refused to speak to anyone but his wife and Springsteen: "He had his cell phone silenced for a few days. He only spoke with a few people. He talked to Bruce several times a day. He learned something new about Bruce that week that he never knew. It made Clarence very happy.
"Clarence and I spent the last week of his life cooking, going out to dinner and watching movies."