COOPERSTOWN _ Rock n' roll returned to Doubleday Field in Cooperstown on Friday night as Crosby, Stills & Nash performed before some 3,000 fans.
Formed 40 years ago, this trio of singer-songwriters is renowned for beautiful harmonies and social consciousness.
Both were on display Friday from the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, who came of age in the '60s, protesting war and convention.
Many in the audience grew up in the same era, and when the band asked them to sing along, they knew the words.
Otsego County Rep. Greg Relic of Unadilla was singing, as was Bassett Healthcare executive Mike Stein of Cooperstown and Edmeston High School Principal Martha Windsor.
``One of the greatest studio bands ever, but this is the first time I've seen them in concert,'' Stein said.
Younger fans, such as Norwich High School students Katie Orioli, Kristi Orioli and Chrissy Stroh, swayed to the music as well.
``I wanted to see them because I have a couple of their songs,'' said Kristi.
Starting with ``Helplessly Hoping,'' CSN drew ovations with their old favorites. But they borrowed, too, playing covers of ``Ruby Tuesday,'' ``A Reason to Believe,'' and Jerry Garcia's ``Uncle John's Band.''
``Just a great show,'' said Jeff Katz, Cooperstown's deputy mayor and a driving force behind the concert.
The sun was beginning to set as the music started, but it was dark by the second set, and much of the audience packed in toward the stage.
``We're going to sing every song we can remember the words to,'' Nash said. ``For Crosby, that's about three.''
But they played much more, and the audience sang with them, cheering loudly for performances of ``Southern Cross'' and ``Long Time Gone.''
Cooperstown has been bringing big-name talent to Doubleday Field since 2004, when a Willie Nelson-Bob Dylan concert sold out at this ballpark, which seats about 10,000.
That smash inaugural concert was followed in 2005 with an incarnation of the Beach Boys and Herman's Hermits.
In 2006, Paul Simon performed here on the Fourth of July and Dylan returned to play on Labor Day weekend.
No band was booked in 2007 or 2008, but promoter Stuart Green, who operates Magic City Productions in Endicott, stayed in touch with village officials.
``He was looking for an act that would work well for us,'' Katz said.
Crosby, Stills & Nash, who began their tour with a sold-out concert in St. Louis last week, were always a possibility, and the deal was finalized months ago.
For hosting the band, Cooperstown receives $10,000, plus $2 per ticket sold by the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce.
By Friday afternoon, the chamber, which receives $3 per ticket, had sold nearly 2,500, with last-minute buyers lining up to pay $55 apiece.
Tickets also were sold online by TicketMaster.
As in past concerts, the Cooperstown Fire Department operated the concessions, an important money-maker for the volunteers.
Crosby, Stills & Nash was formed in 1969, and 40 years ago this August, the band played at Woodstock.
Over the years, David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash have pursued solo careers and periodically regrouped _ sometimes with Neil Young _ to produce their unique fusion of sounds.
Even before they met through mutual friends Joni Mitchell and Cass Elliot, they were well-known, with Crosby the Byrd's rhythm guitarist, Stills a singer and lead guitarist for Buffalo Springfield, and Nash a vocalist with the Hollies.
