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Troubadours wrap up for cross-country trek

The couple behind Under the Oaks will go over the river and through the woods. They sold their house to take to the road with their folk music.

By SHERYL KAY
Published September 22, 2006

LUTZ - The monthly house concerts have moved on to other venues, and now the hosts are traveling on as well.

Ellie Daulton and Doug Travers have sold their Lutz home and are soon to embark on a cross-country trek.

The couple were widely known in folk music circles for Under the Oaks, a monthly performance of independent folk musicians, which drew as many as 50 listeners.

"These were traveling musicians who were not in the mainstream, but were as good if not better without all that corporate stuff," said Daulton, 68, a retired business seminar leader and an accomplished musician in her own right.

Under the Oaks began as a favor to an acquaintance in 1998, Daulton said. The friend had been promoting indie folk musicians at a club downtown that suddenly closed.

With no other options, the friend asked Daulton if she and Travers might consider hosting the musicians at their home.

"I said, 'I guess we could,' and the rest is all history," Daulton said.

That first concert drew about 20 listeners. Eventually the crowd grew and the performances became so consistent that Travers, 62, a professional musician and recording engineer, built a stage for the performers in the home's Florida room.

When the couple announced the final concert in December, there were 300 concertgoers on their e-mail list.

"We were drawn to them because it was a nice wholesome clean environment where we always got to hear great music," said Maureen Cucchiara, who used to drive from Dade City to attend the concerts. "It was like this family atmosphere."

Daulton said the decision to leave was a long time in the making. With rising home costs, and both she and her husband reaching their senior years, the time was finally right.

Finding the right buyer for their beloved home was no simple matter. A professional photographer became the new homeowner, and that made the transition for Daulton much smoother.

She and Travers moved into a 33-foot trailer, donating, selling and storing their belongings. They will hit the road in October with their German shepherd, Diamond.

They plan to visit relatives in Connecticut, and then head west. Under the Oaks' Web site, www.luvsounders.com, will remain online. Daulton hopes to add a blog detailing their travel adventures.

"This really is a very freeing experience," she said. "You don't have all this stuff anymore, you don't have a lawn to mow, you don't have all the bills you had."

While on the road, the two plan to play at other's home concerts and other small gigs.

Travers will continue to produce music with the professional recording equipment he's built into the back of a big red 2-ton GMC truck that will tow their trailer.

"Or we might just sit right outside our trailer and just put down a tin can and start playing right there," Daulton said. "It's not about the money. Never has been. It's all about the love of music."

Sheryl Kay can be reached at 813 230-8788 or skreporter@hotmail.com

[Last modified September 21, 2006, 07:25:23]