Are you planning to check out the new Bruce Springsteen movie when it hits the theaters this coming Friday? If you do, you’ll see a face that you might recognize, especially if you’re a jazz fan.
In the movie, Deliver Me From Nowhere, Rochester resident Judah Sealy plays the part of Clarence Clemons, who for almost 40 years was the backbone of Springsteen’s E Street Band, his saxophone solos providing a signature sound to the band’s many hits, including “Born to Run” and “Jungleland.”
Sealy is a chart-topping smooth jazz saxophonist and regular performer at the Village of Webster’s annual Jazz Festival. A few days ago I had the opportunity to chat with him to get his thoughts on what he called a “once-in-a-lifetime dream.”
It was about a year ago when Sealy first found out that a movie about Springsteen was in the works, when he got a Facebook message from fellow musician — and highly renowned saxophone player — Andy Snitzer. The two had never even met, but Snitzer was familiar with Sealy’s work.
He reached out to me and he said, “There is a woman named Sandy Park who is the music contractor for an upcoming film about Bruce Springsteen, and they are looking for someone to play the part of Clarence Clemons. … somebody who actually plays saxophone who could embody Clarence Clemons. … I think that you would be great for the part.”
Sealy was hesitant at first; he didn’t know anything about movies, and as a single father was worried about the travel and the time commitment that would be involved. But when Park contacted him and told him what they were doing, he agreed to try out.
For the audition, Sealy was told to film himself playing the solo from “Born to Run.” He recorded it three times before he was happy with the result and sent it off. But on the advice of his friend Deepak Thettu, he also added a “bonus track” to his audition: You’re a Friend of Mine, which Clemons recorded with Jackson Browne in 1985 and became a big hit.
Sealy was one of hundreds of musicians trying out for the role, but the extra effort made his audition tape stand out from them all. “(Sandy) said, that’s the one that sealed the deal. She told me that when I did that song, I was able to show more of the character of Clarence than just his playing, and that’s what they really wanted.”
Sealy was awarded the role last September, and flew down in October to meet the director and the other musicians and take part in the first rehearsal, held at the Power Station recording studio, where Springsteen produced his iconic album Born in the USA. Then back down again in November for wardrobe fittings and wig fittings.
In December, Sealy returned to film his first scene, which took place at The Stone Pony, a music venue in Asbury Park, NJ, which Springsteen would frequent. By the time filming wrapped up in January, he’d been back and forth to New York four or five times, filming recording sessions and concert scenes at the Power Station, Stone Pony and the Meadowlands.
It was a unique experience which gave him renewed respect for how hard actors work.
“Every scene they shot we had to do literally at least 30 times,” Sealy said. “They would do the same scene from one angle, then five or six times from another angle, then they do the same scene with closeups on Jeremy (who was playing Springsteen), members of the band, the audience.”
The band members had to project the same raw energy with each take.
We delivered it every single time. We had to. The director said we had to learn the music exactly the way it was played, note for note. Imagine how difficult that is. When the original members of the E Street Band and Bruce were performing this music, they were adding their own embellishments to the song, whereas we had to learn their embellishments. Imagine the way that somebody might be riffing on something, we had to learn how they riffed. That was a talent in and of itself.
It definitely takes a toll.
And yes, he did get to meet The Boss himself.
Our very first day we were filming, me and the members of the E Street Band are at the Stone Pony, waiting for what we’re supposed to do, on set seeing what the venue was like, where we would be filming, and in walks Bruce. He came over and said, “How you guys doin”? We’re all starstruck, like, what is our life, are you serious? This is crazy.
After going to wardrobe and makeup, Bruce comes up to me, because he knew I was playing Clarence, and he said, “It’s nice to see The Big Man again.” My heart just melted. (Clemons passed away in 2011.)
Sealy doesn’t have many scenes in the film, but the ones he does have are powerful.
There was another time when we were filming a scene and I was doing what I thought was my best, playing the character of Clarence. After we finished the scene, the music producer pulled me aside, and he says, “When you were doing that scene, Bruce started weeping while he was watching it on the monitor. He was saying, ‘I miss my friend, I miss my friend.’ The fact that you were able to provoke that reaction, I applaud you.”
I was so moved. Even as cool as this opportunity was, I wanted to do justice to Clarence’s family, to the fans, to Bruce’s relationship with Clarence. Even though it’s very brief that I’m on the film, I didn’t want to just go up there and make myself look cool. I wanted to do it justice and to get that kind of reaction from Bruce was very special.
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(posted 10/20/2025)
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