Don Reo, the television writer and producer who co-authored Clarence Clemons’ just-released book Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales, said his collaboration with Bruce Springsteen’s famous saxophonist was “like working with Elvis, Jesus and Santa Claus all rolled into one.”

It was also “an incredible amount of fun, inspiring, and there’s really good music.”

The first book by an E Street Band member has been getting a push from The Boss himself, who lately has begun holding up a copy at the band’s concerts and then making a show of producing a Sharpie and asking Clarence to autograph it. Reo said Springsteen also has given permission for the book to be sold at kiosks in concert venues for the rest of the tour, which ends Nov. 22.

“He’s never done anything like that, so it’s pretty cool,” Reo said. “Bruce is so happy for Clarence; he really likes the book. I sent Bruce an e-mail to thank him for promoting it at the shows and his reply was so complimentary it actually got embarrassing.”

Reo said the pair knew they were doing something unusual by creating a book that mixed facts with legends and myths.
“It’s not your typical rock star memoir,” he said. “We had no idea how Bruce would receive it because in lots of instances we were putting words in his mouth. Our intent of course was to stay true to who he was, but we didn’t know until he read it what his reaction would be.”

Reo and Clemons have been promoting the book in New York this week with book signings, the Howard Stern show and morning television.

Clemons has said the book was Reo’s idea.

“It was,” Reo agreed. “We were sitting on a boat in the Gulf of Mexico about two years ago. We were in a lull and nothing was happening. And I said, ‘How come there are 42 books about Bruce and none about you?’ And Clarence thought about it a moment and said ‘I have no idea.’

“So I said, ‘Why don’t we take some of these stories and stuff we talk about all the time and write them down?’ ”

When they wrote the book, Reo said there was definitely an element of the two friends trying to entertain each other.

“There were so many stories we’d tell when we were out fishing or just hanging out — stories that fascinated us or made us laugh. We had so much fun we thought others would have fun too.”

Some positive reviews from readers on Amazon.com have convinced Reo that the plan worked.

“Fans of the band embraced what we did,” he said, referring to the hybrid fact-and-fiction stories sprinkled throughout Big Man. “They really got it, which is fun and gratifying to see. It is unusual. Dave Marsh wrote all those linear, factual books about Bruce that were wonderful. And this book is nothing like that. So we’re very pleased at the reactions from fans.”

When asked why, at age 67, he’s chosen to do a book now, Clemons just says the time was right.

“To tell a story, you want to find the right time,” he said. “All the stars were aligned for this book. It was meant to be.”