Vaughn has been drawn to music ever since he was a kid. He started out with piano lessons, violin lessons, clarinet in school, and discovered his love of guitar as a young teenager. He fell in love with jazz when he reached college, and he’s been on that journey ever since. 

As a guitarist, Vaughn studied with Ben Wendel and Mike Moreno and has been the leader of several bands. He recorded his debut album of original songs, titled “Along the Way,” in 2022 with a quartet featuring Ruben Rogers on bass, Eddie Mendenhall on piano, and Darrin Thomas on drums. In 2025, he recorded a new album that will be released in late Spring with Kevin Person Jr on piano, Sheldon Alexander on drums, and Guilio Cetto on bass.

You’ll find Vaughn in San Francisco performing regularly at his gig on Wednesdays at a bar called Gestalt in the Mission District and popping up with groups across the city in various jazz bars and events. He’s performed at The Royale, Madrone Art Bar, SJ Breakroom, The Mellow SF, and many other spots. Check out his Instagram to listen to some of his piano compositions, watch his incredible guitar technique, and catch where he’s playing next.