For Highland Lakes resident Luke Bauman, music runs in his blood. A live performer, recording artist, and longtime musician, he has spent decades sharing music everywhere from churches and concert venues to wineries and neighborhood patios. Inspired by Jimmy Buffett, he uses music to tell stories and create experiences that people remember.

Musical Roots

“I was fortunate to grow up in a deeply musical home,” he shares, recalling early memories of Jimmy Buffett records playing in the background. Luke comes from a long line of musicians. His great-grandfather co-wrote the Johnstown Alma Mater, and his father was involved in the Central Ohio music scene. For Luke and his family, music was part of everyday life.

In the mid-90s, Luke quickly figured out how to play bass guitar so that he could start a classic rock cover band with some friends. Around that same time, his family began attending Vineyard Columbus, and he became heavily involved in music production and live sound, giving him the opportunity to work alongside some of the biggest Christian artists of the time. He later taught himself guitar and began leading worship services.

Creating an Experience through Music

While he led worship and performed locally throughout Johnstown with his high school band, Luke landed his first true solo gig in 1997 at a small cafe in Westerville. His connections with Vineyard Columbus also allowed him to play in many different states and even other countries such as Mexico and the United Kingdom, performing for crowds as large as 3,500.

Now a marketing professional, licensed Realtor, and dad, Luke still finds time for occasional live performances locally. When he does, he gravitates toward smaller venues. He favors wineries, breweries, patios, and other neighborhood spots where he finds that people can actually connect with the music.

For Luke, one of the highlights of performing live is enjoying a front-row seat to people letting their guard down in real time. “I think what I love most are songs that make people feel something collectively — songs that turn a crowd into a shared experience for a few minutes,” he says. “Whether it’s laughter, nostalgia, heartbreak, or escapism, those are the moments I chase as a performer.”

Bringing Family Together

But music has done more than help Luke connect with audiences over the years. It has also been at the center of some of his most meaningful personal moments.

During the 2000s, Luke typically played shows three nights a week, both solo and with his band. “One of the best parts of that season of life was getting to share the stage with my father. I played guitar and handled vocals while he stood behind me on bass,” Luke recalls. “We played venues all over Central Ohio together, and those are memories I’ll always value.” 

Music was at the center of another pivotal memory for Luke — his engagement to his wife, Rachel, at Coppa Gelato. When Rachel walked in, Luke performed “Then” by Brad Paisley for a packed room filled with family, friends, and many of her students from High Point Elementary in Gahanna. Then, he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. “It was surreal, emotional, and one of the few times in my life I was more nervous performing for 50 people than for thousands,” Luke shares.

Now, Luke and Rachel, who moved to Highland Lakes in 2019, share two daughters, Savannah (“Savvy”) who is 8 and Gwendolyn (“Gwennie”), who is 7. It is clear that the  family’s musical roots are continuing with the next generation as Luke says Savvy was born to perform. “She has been singing at the top of her lungs since she first found her voice in the bassinet,” he shares. 

Savvy has taken to the stage at Fouse Elementary School’s annual Variety Show twice. In 2024, Luke accompanied her on guitar as she sang “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper. At the most recent show, she performed a moving rendition of “See You Again” in honor of her grandfather who recently passed away.

“She genuinely loves performing, entertaining people, and being in the spotlight,” Luke says of his eldest daughter. “Watching her discover that same joy in music has been incredibly special for me as a dad.”

Connect with Luke’s Music

Luke’s shows are a mix of modern country, classic rock, pop, and a heavy dose of ‘90s nostalgia, which he says are all filtered through a storytelling style heavily inspired by Jimmy Buffett. In fact, you will find a Buffett song in each of Luke’s sets, and Luke even worked with Mailboat Records — Jimmy Buffett’s own record label — to officially license and release his cover of “A Pirate Looks at Forty.” As someone who grew up inspired by Buffett’s music, Luke says that was a dream come true.

Buffett has inspired Luke’s philosophy that the purpose of music is “to tell stories, bring people together, and make life feel a little bigger and brighter for a while.” He finds his musical journey to be one of the greatest adventures of his life and is grateful for every supporter who has come along for the ride.

You can catch Luke live and in person at Wyandotte Winery on October 2, and he will occasionally perform live on TikTok at @songsinthekeyofwest. His music — including his first full-length album, “Coastal Blues” — is also available on most major streaming platforms.