“Take me out to the ballgame, take me out for some fun. Buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks, I don’t care if I ever get back …” rang through the large room as the residents of Ross Manor in Bangor drummed fingers, tapped toes and sang along softly to the paraphrased classic with the Sunshine Gals.

And spread sunshine they do. The attentive audience flashed smiles as the group performed such songs as “Give My Regards to Broadway” and “Yankee Doodle Dandy.”

Mary Martin, 77, founder of the group, started her musical career 20 years ago with the purchase of an organ.

“I figured I bought it, so I’d better learn to play it,” she said.

It wasn’t long before she was entertaining patients on the Kelly 5 ward at Eastern Maine Medical Center, and playing and singing at nursing homes. When a few friends offered to perform with her, the Sunshine Gals were born.

“We like to smile and have fun, so Sunshine Gals seemed like an appropriate name for us,” said Martin. “It really worked in nicely.”

It’s been 12 years and they are still going strong. Members have come and gone through the years but the group goes on, said Martin. There are currently seven members of the Sunshine Gals.

“I love the performing and just seeing the people smile – you feel like you are doing some good,” she said. “And it’s good for us as well. It’s something important to do.”

The Sunshine Gals have a schedule that could tire singers half their ages. They have standard gigs at various assisted living facilities, senior housing and nursing homes every Friday, and two Wednesdays per month. They can provide other performances as requested, and each show lasts approximately one hour.

The fourth Friday of every month, they sing at Ross Manor, as they have for 11 years.

“I love having them come,” said Judy Moores, director of activities and social services at Ross Manor. “All the residents recognize the Sunshine Gals. I sometimes have to coax residents to come to functions, but not for this one because they just love it. Generally 30 or 40 residents come.”

It is more than a good time for the residents, added Moores. It’s like music therapy.

“When they hear a familiar song, they feel at home and suddenly they fit in, they feel a connection,” she said. “Music touches people in a different way than talking. It’s a comfort.”

For some residents who are unable to venture outside, it is particularly important that people come to them, said Moores.

“It allows them to be part of the community and the outside world,” she said. “And when the concert is over, they are all smiles and are a little more social.”

Sarah Littlefield, 86, has been coming to the concerts for two years.

“I am so glad to be here and I’m enjoying myself. I remember most of the songs,” she said with a smile. “And it’s wonderful because it connects me to my past. We were a musical family and I used to sing some of these songs.”

That is music to Martin’s ears.

“We’re not professional,” she said. “We do this just for the people and when they participate and sing along, well that’s great. We go to make them happy. That makes us happy.”

There are 73 numbers in the Sunshine Gals repertoire but the performances are very casual, said Martin. A program is planned but if it changes – that’s fine. Their mood that day dictates songs to be sung. And they will take requests.

“I tell them this is a sing-a-long and they are all invited to join us,” said Martin. “And if they don’t know all the words, they can hum it.”

Carol Higgins is director of communications at Eastern Agency on Aging. For information on EAA services or programs, call Marilyn or Chuck at 941-2865 or log on

www.eaaa.org.