If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a customer hangs around a guitar shop long enough, the answer might just be Skip & Joe.

Their story began at the Fort Wayne Guitar Exchange, where owner Skip Calvin sold guitars, swapped stories, and occasionally convinced customers to join him on stage. One of those customers was Joe Baumgartner. Drawn in by the lure of Beatles tunes and a few too many irresistible guitars (he currently owns eight but admits you can only play one at a time!), Joe became a regular at Skip’s store. Before long, the two became friends—and eventually, performing partners.

Skip had been playing professionally for years, from bars and private parties to community stages. Joe, on the other hand, had mostly played at home. That changed after years of Skip’s gentle nudging (“You should do this…”). In 2018, Joe finally auditioned for Audiences Unlimited—and the duo was officially born.

These days, Skip and Joe bring a mix of classic rock, country, and timeless sing-alongs to audiences across the region. Their setlists range from Van Morrison to The Beatles, with anywhere from 30 to 80 songs ready to go.

“We click together pretty well,” Joe said modestly. “Skip’s the front man. I follow along.” Skip is quick to add that Joe is rock-solid: “If I show him something, he practices until he gets it. And he’s never late—he’s either the car ahead of me or the car behind me as we pull in to play.”

Performing for Audiences Unlimited has given the pair more than just a stage—it’s given them a purpose as well. Skip recalls a woman in a walker who started dancing during one of their songs. “I’ve never done anything that important before,” he said.

Joe treasures the simple thank-yous the team receives, such as the time a woman pulled him aside after a performance and said, “You probably thought I wasn’t listening, but I am. Thank you for coming.”

Sometimes, their music gets their audiences moving and dancing, walkers and all. “We put other people to sleep,” Joe admitted, “and that’s okay.” No matter how their music moves their audience, Skip and Joe are quick to say that they’re there to connect, share joy, and keep playing music for people who truly appreciate it.

Skip sums it up: “Some of the people we play for now are the same people who used to come see me years ago at Five Points—they’re just living in a different place.” Same people, same love for music, same performer. “Life is all in what you make of it,” he said.

And for Skip and Joe, it’s about making life just a little bit more magical—and musical—for the people they entertain.