Aug. 1, 1991: With lights and glitz, Debbie Gibson opened her show at F.M. Kirby Center with songs from her debut album, “Out of the Blue.” When she finished “Only in My Dreams,” the crowd of over 1,000 people began chanting “Debbie, Debbie.”
Gibson thanked the crowd and told them they were “the most enthusiastic” she had encountered since the tour began.
She continued by treating the fans to songs from another of her albums, “Electric Youth” and her new album, “Anything Is Possible.” At one point, she invited the crowd to come dance on stage with her. The Kirby Center’s staff kept that from happening.
Tickets for the night with Gibson were $20.50. Singer Chris Cuevas opened for her.
Prior to her performance in Wilkes-Barre, Gibson, 20, spoke with The Tribune over the phone and said she wanted people to know that her show was “not only a show for kids. And there is no other way to say that. I’ve been performing for 16 years.”
Gibson entered the pop music scene at 16 when she released “Out of the Blue” in 1987. That album produced such hits as the title cut and “Shake Your Love.” She followed that album up with “Electric Youth” in 1989.
Her tour appearance in Wilkes-Barre was in support of her new album, on which she co-produced and co-wrote several songs with Motown songwriter Lamont Dozier.
Contact the writer: bfulton@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9140; @TTPagesPast on Twitter
Brian Fulton has been the librarian at The Times-Tribune for the past 15 years. On his blog, Historically Hip, he writes about the great concerts, plays/musicals and celebrity happenings that have taken place throughout NEPA. He is also the co-host of the local history podcast, Historically Hip. He competed and was crowned grand champion on an episode of NPR quiz show “Ask Me Another.” Contact: bfulton@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9140; or @TTPagesPast
