If you’ve spent any time at the local Moose Lodge or caught a sunset at a winery lately, you might have run into Jan and Rob Santoro. Known as the Unexpected Duo (and founding members of the six-piece Blues Krue), the intrepid couple is the real deal — musicians who spent their days working “regular” jobs and their nights keeping the nightlife alive. Now that they’re “retired,” they’re working harder than ever to make sure the local scene stays vibrant.
Gigs include the Eagles or the Moose lodges in Lake County. If you’re there, stop by and say hello, but don’t ask them for hair or carpentry advice; they’re strictly in the music biz now.
The Daily Commercial spoke to Jan about their transition from the Northeast to the Florida blues scene, their musical household and why retirement for them means anything but slowing down.
Q: You moved here from Connecticut about a year and a half ago. What spurred your move down to Florida?
A: Honestly, we just wanted the warmth! We spent decades in Connecticut. I was a hairdresser for over 30 years, and Rob was a contractor, and we always knew we wanted to retire somewhere we could actually enjoy the outdoors year-round. We landed in a cozy 55-plus community in Leesburg (Lakeside Village), and it’s been perfect. It feels like a big family here.
Q: Your partnership with Rob is pretty legendary. You’ve been married and playing music together since you were 24. How did you two first meet?
A: It was actually a band audition back in 1980. His five-piece band was looking for a singer, and a mutual friend gave them my number. It’s funny because we realized we went to the same schools and knew the same people, but our paths never crossed until that audition. We’ve been together ever since.
Q: Is yours a “musical household?” Does that talent run in the family?
A: It definitely does. Our son is 40 now and still up in Connecticut, but he’s a fantastic musician. He’s actually quite well-known for his Paul McCartney tributes. He’s left-handed, just like Paul, and he’s studied the accent and the look so perfectly that it’s uncanny. We grew up on the Beatles and the Stones, so seeing him carry that on is special.
Q: You’ve pivoted into the blues with Blues Krue. What drew you to that genre specifically?
A: I started listening to Bonnie Raitt and Susan Tedeschi, which led me down the rabbit hole to the blues divas like Koko Taylor.
I realized that almost everything we listen to today evolved from those basics. There’s such a raw energy to it. We played Bike Fest last year as the duo, but I’m really looking forward to getting the full Blues Band into more festivals and maybe some small theaters.
Q: Where can people catch you playing locally?
A: We’re on rotation at Uncorked in Eustis, which is a great little wine bistro. We also love playing on the patio at the Orange Blossom Opry before the main shows.
We’re just trying to fill that void for live, soulful music in the Lake and Sumter area.
Catch the Santoros live
For Unexpected Duo:
May 9: Steve’s Bar and Grill at The Plantation in Leesburg, 5-8 p.m.
May 15: The Oak house @ Water Oak, Lady Lake, 4-7 p.m.
For Blues Krue:
May 23: Blues festival at Sparacia Witherel winery, Brooksville, at 8:30 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Jan and Rob Santoro show it’s never too late to rock out
Reporting by Julie Garisto, Leesburg Daily Commercial / Daily Commercial
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
