You could hear the music from out in the hallway before you laid eyes on the scene unfolding in the large room."When Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure it's like a morn in Spring ..."

Every seat was filled and, though the concertgoers had song sheets with the words printed out, many were doing fine without glancing at them. The audience members were residents of the Linda Manor Extended Care Facility in Leeds and some had no doubt known the song about Irish eyes and many of the others - "America the Beautiful," "Oh! Susanna" and "The Yellow Rose of Texas" - all their long lives.

--See a multimedia slideshow with photos and sound of the Lotus Band performing below.

The band members at this gig - and they do use that word - were four women and one man whose ages range from 75 to 90-something. They are Alice Eastman of Leeds on keyboard; Lotus O'Connor of Northampton on piano; Arthur Braley of Leeds on harmonica; and two singers, Maria Derouin of Westhampton and Connie Doerfler of Easthampton. They've been playing together at nursing homes and retirement communities around Hampshire County for about 15 years, and usually make about seven appearances a month.

Their repertoire includes more than 100 songs, from the old-timey ballads to Beatles tunes, and sometimes they'll play a little classical music as well.

"I can't play a darn thing without the music" to read, says Lotus O'Connor, who turns 94 in November. She's been playing piano since age 8. When the group was thinking about a name, they settled on hers. "They thought it was pretty," she says, "and I guess they wanted something distinctive."

O'Connor says Alice Eastman is the "real angel" who keeps the Lotus Band going. Eastman drives O'Connor and her wheelchair to and from their gigs, and makes sure she's comfortably settled in at the piano. "I'll keep doing this as long as my fingers and my eyes hold out," says O'Connor. "And as long as Alice is willing to pick me up and wheel me to the piano."

Maria Derouin, who sings, tap dances and plays tambourine, says she knows those they've played for appreciate the sing-along concerts. Some tell her the songs bring back memories; others, slowed by advanced age or illness, can't always express that verbally. But when Derouin looks out at her audiences, she says she often sees feet and hands tapping to the beat. As a performer, she needs no more reward than that. "I have my own Broadway right here," she says.