Today we’d like to introduce you to Luke Allen.
Hi Luke, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up playing trumpet in the school band. I continued to play occasionally through college. After a broken front tooth kept me from playing trumpet, I learned to sing. After college, I became more deeply involved in the Austin music scene and I now play professionally.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Relearning to play trumpet after dental issues took years, and even now I struggle with confidence in my playing. Balancing my musical interests with my full time office job has also been difficult.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I play (and sing) jazz. I play often in early jazz and swing groups around town, but my specialty is the American Songbook. At my shows, I sing songs associated with Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, and other jazz and pop icons. I’ve called myself “Austin’s #1 Jazz Entertainer” due to my energetic stage presence and funny banter during shows. I’m an avid swing dancer and have a following of dancers at my shows.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My family, especially my trumpet playing mom, for helping me get started in music and making a significant investment in instruments, gear, etc.
My second trumpet teacher, Alonzo Ellison, for encouraging me to continue playing jazz while my HS had no jazz band.
The many friends I first began playing with at jams for encouraging me and leading me to performance opportunities.
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