Kenny Rogers at Clemens Center — July 14, 1996

Thirty years ago, Kenny Rogers brought his unmistakable rasp and a catalog of crossover smashes to the Clemens Center, Elmira’s beautifully restored vaudeville-era theater. By 1996 Rogers was one of the most successful entertainers in the world — “The Gambler,” “Lucille,” “Lady,” and the Dolly Parton duet “Islands in the Stream” had made him a country and pop institution at once. The Clemens Center’s gilded hall was a fitting room for a showman who could fill arenas but always sang like he was telling you a story across a card table.