LINCOLN - Lincoln resident Skye Hurlburt has been playing music since her childhood and performing professionally for more than 35 years.

This spring, she will be sharing her talent with Rhode Island residents as she puts on a free 12-week concert series at senior centers and libraries throughout the state that is open to the public.

Skye, who prefers to use only her first name, describes herself as a daytime entertainer. She makes a living performing at assisted living facilities and senior centers throughout southern New England.

Skye said her music is a perfect fit with that age group. Since 2000, she has been performing approximately 350 to 400 times a year at these locations.

"The music that I love is the music they grew up with so it was a perfect match," she said.

Before Skye started playing harp and singing full time, she worked as a geriatric audiologist.

"I was still with the same group of people," she said.

Although Skye said she enjoys performing primarily for seniors, when she decided to apply for a grant to put on the concert series, a requirement of the grant was that the concerts be open to the public.

The grant was given by the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts.

Skye plays the flute, piano, guitar and harp, but during the concert series she will primarily play the harp and sing. The theme of the series is "The Song Lingers On: A Celebration of the Great American Songbook" and will be dedicated to music of the 20s, 30s and 40s.

Although this will be her first solo series, Skye has had experience in the concert business. From approximately 1998 to 2004 she sang with the Arthur Medeiros Swing Band during various concert seriesÕ including shows at VeteranÕs Memorial and Slater parks.

When asked what she gets out of performing, SkyeÕs answer was simple.

"Making people smile and making people tap their toes," she answered quickly. "ItÕs nice knowing you can make someoneÕs day a little better and a little brighter."