Made Here
When you are Wild
Season 13 Episode 1311 | 29m 16sVideo has Closed Captions
A day in the life of J. Willis Pratt and his fight with cancer.
Homeless for close to a decade, Willis never gave up on his dream to be a famous rock star. In the 1980s, he befriended the members of the band Phish who were attending Goddard College in his hometown of Plainfield. This friendship led to the drummer of Phish, Jon Fishman, to help him with his dream by not only playing drums for him when he could, but also inviting him to open up for Phish.
Made Here is a local public television program presented by Vermont Public
Sponsored in part by the John M. Bissell Foundation, Inc. | Learn about the Made Here Fund
Made Here
When you are Wild
Season 13 Episode 1311 | 29m 16sVideo has Closed Captions
Homeless for close to a decade, Willis never gave up on his dream to be a famous rock star. In the 1980s, he befriended the members of the band Phish who were attending Goddard College in his hometown of Plainfield. This friendship led to the drummer of Phish, Jon Fishman, to help him with his dream by not only playing drums for him when he could, but also inviting him to open up for Phish.
How to Watch Made Here
Made Here is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
>> HI, I'M ERIC FORD FOR "MADE HERE."
GREG HEMMINGS'S VERMONT FILM, "WHEN YOU ARE WILD," IS A HEARTFELT PROJECT THAT SHOWS THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP AND HOW A COMMUNITY RALLIED TOGETHER TO HELP ONE OF THEIR OWN.
HOMELESS FOR CLOSE TO A DECADE, JAY WILLIS PRATT NEVER GAVE UP ON HIS DREAM TO BE A FAMOUS ROCK STAR.
IN THE 1980s HE BEFRIENDED THE MEMBERS OF THE BAND PHISH, WHO WERE ATTENDING GODDARD COLLEGE IN HIS HOMETOWN OF PLAINFIELD.
THIS LED TO JON FISHMAN PLAYING WITH HIM AND INVITING PRATT TO OPEN FOR PHISH IN FRONT OF 20,000 PEOPLE.
WHEN PRATT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER, FANS AND FRIENDS SUPPORTED HIM AS HE HEADLINES HIS OWN BENEFIT SHOW.
YOU CAN WATCH "WHEN YOU ARE WILD" AND MANY OTHER "MADE ERE" STORIES STREAMING ON VERMONTPBS.ORG AND THROUGH THE PBS APP.
ENJOY THE FILM, AND THANKS FOR WATCHING.
>> THIS IS FOR ALL YOU CRAZY PEOPLE OUT THERE.
THIS IS CALLED, "WILD."
♪ ♪ >> I DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO BECOME A PUNK ROCKER BECAUSE I LIKE PUNK ROCK, BUT I WAS A METAL-HEAD, BUT ITS LIKE I CAN PLAY.
♪ ♪ WE WALKED OUT PRETTY GOOD ON JUNE 16 OF LAST YEAR.
I EVEN BLEW MYSELF AWAY, REALLY.
IT'S LIKE, HOLY COW, HOW DID I DO THAT?
♪ ♪ THAT'S HOW IT IS WHEN YOU ARE WILD ♪ ♪ ♪ >> IT'S KIND OF NICE AROUND HERE, BUT I'VE BEEN HERE TOO LONG KIND OF A THING, TOO.
I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE I WAS NINE.
BORN IN BENNINGTON, VERMONT.
BORN AT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.
WENT TO ELM HILL WHEN I WAS NINE, AND 1973, 1974, AND MOVED TO MAPLE HILL, AND 1980, I MOVED DOWNTOWN.
I'VE BEEN STUCK HERE EVER SINCE.
>> WE'VE BEEN LISTENING TO JAY WILLIS PRATT, WE ARE BOONEIC, AND WE HAVE WILLIS IN THE STUDIO.
HOW ARE THINGS GOING?
YOU ARE GETTING READY FOR A CONCERT TONIGHT.
>> HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE A GOOD ONE.
>> WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT ON THE RADIO ALL MORNING, HOW TONIGHT AT THE HAY BARN THEATRE AT GODDARD COLLEGE, SHOW STARTS AT 6:30, DOORS OPEN, SHOW STARTS AT 7:00.
>> IF YOU WANT TO HEAR GOOD OLD, ROCK 'N' ROLL, THAT'S THE PLACE TO BE.
>> AND THIS IS REALLY GREAT.
WE'VE JUST BEEN LISTENING TO YOUR C.D., AND BEFORE THAT -- >> I AM GLAD YOU LIKED THAT PARTICULAR SONG BECAUSE THAT WAS LIKE NOT ON ONE OF THE BETTER O, THERE IS SOME THAT ARE WORSE BUT THERE IS PRETTY GOOD STUFF, THAT ONE, AND LADY IN THE SHARK TANK.
♪ >> I CAN'T BELIEVE I MISSED THAT ONE CHORD RIGHT THERE THAT TIME.
>> I CAN'T BELIEVE IT, EITHER.
[LAUGHTER] >> IT'S THE STONEWALL DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF PLAINFIELD, THAT'S WHERE WE HANG OUT SOMETIMES A LOT, WHEN YOU HAVE GOT NOTHING BETTER TO DO.
AND IT WAS A DRATE -- A GREAT G SPOT, SOMETIMES WE STILL SNEAK OUT AND DRINK ON THE WALL, BUT.
[LAUGHTER] >> WE DON'T GET TO PRACTICE A LOT, SO I LIKE TO PRACTICE AT LEAST A COUPLE TIMES BEFORE A GIG, IF WE CAN.
WE ALWAYS PLAY BETTER IF WE GET AT LEAST ONE PRACTICE IN.
♪ ♪ I TELL JOHN EVERY TIME, IT'S LIKE, LISTEN TO THE C.D.
SO THAT YOU ARE GETTING AN IDEA, YOU KNOW, OF THE C.D.s.
♪ ♪ >> NICE, YEAH.
>> JON FISHMAN, JOHN CASOWITCH, JAY WILLIS PRATT -- THEY ARE FRIENDS AND AWESOME MUSICIANS.
IT'S LIKE, SOME DAY I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO PAY EVERYBODY, TOO.
AND I TRY TO GET THE FISHMAN.
HE'S THE OFFICIAL DRUMMER FOR THE BAND.
ALTHOUGH WE USUALLY HAVE TO USE OTHER PEOPLE MOST OF THE TIME.
HE'S THE OFFICIAL AND THE OTHER BAND DRUMMERS, I MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT.
IF THIS SHOWS UP HE GETS THE RIGHT-OF-WAY, BUT IF YOU WANT TO DRUM FOR US, THAT'S GREAT.
>> WHENEVER I HAVE NOT SEEN HIM FOR A WHILE, LIKE THE FIRST THING, HEY, MAN, WHERE ARE YOU WHEN WE WANT TO ROCK.
HE LITERALLY LIVES TO ROCK.
>> HE WANTED TO CALL US RUBBER METAL BECAUSE HE THINKS I HAVE WEIRD TIMING, WHICH I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT BECAUSE WE ARE PRETTY TIGHT.
>> I AM ANDREW GHETTO.
I AM OLD FRIENDS WITH WILLIS.
WE HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS.
>> HE LIVED ACROSS THE STREET, AND I SAW HIM WITH A KEYBOARD PLAYER, AND I GO, DO YOU WANT TO COME OVER AND MAKE SOME NOISE, AND SEE HOW IT SOUNDS?
>> OUR FRIENDSHIP KIND OF COALESCED JUST AROUND THE TIME WHEN WILLIS HAD A LOT OF NEW MATERIAL.
WHEN WE MET, HE SAID HE HAD WRITTEN ABOUT 55 OR 60 ORIGINAL SONGS.
AND I COULD TELL THAT HE WAS ON A SONG WRITING KICK.
>> LET'S FORM A BAND, AND THAT'S HOW IT BEGAN.
>> ONE OF THE FUNNY THINGS ABOUT WILLIS IS THAT OFTEN WHEN I WOULD GO OVER TO HIS HOUSE OR SEE HIM, IF HE WAS ANYWHERE WITHIN FIVE OR TEN FEET OF A GUITAR, HE WOULD NOT SAY HI TO ME.
OR HEY, ANDREW.
HE WOULD PICK UP THE GUITAR AND START PLAYING WHATEVER WAS IN HIS BRAIN OR WORKING ON AT THE TIME.
AND THEN I THINK EVENTUALLY WE ENDED UP GOING TO BURLINGTON IN DAN ARCHER'S STUDIO, AND THAT'S WHERE THE FIRST OF THE TWO ALBUMS I WORKED ON, BLEEDING IN THE SHARK'S TANK, BEGAN TO TAKE FORM.
>> I'M DAN ARCHER.
I HAVE A STUDIO IN BURLINGTON.
>> AFTER I MADE A RECORD, WAS IT, WHAT WAS THE NAME OF IT, LAWN BOY, WITH THE BAND, PHISH, THEY WERE EXCITED, AND THEY SAID WE HAVE GOT THESE OTHER PEOPLE THAT WE WANT TO BRING IN, TOO, AND THEY MENTIONED WILLIS.
WAIT UNTIL YOU HEAR WILLIS.
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE IT.
FISHMAN CAN SPOT TALENT, AND HE SPOTTED IT, AND HE BROUGHT HIM IN.
IT WAS JUST UNBELIEVABLE.
I NEVER HEARD ANYTHING LIKE IT.
THERE IS LIKE THESE POP HOOKS, YOU KNOW, EVERY SONG WAS LIKE, I DON'T NEED YOU GOD.
MAKE WAVES.
♪ ♪ >> WILLIS' MUSIC IS, WELL, IT'S AWESOME.
I CALL IT PUNK MUSIC.
WILLIS, HE WILL PROBABLY TELL YOU SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
FROM THE FIRST TIME, I HAVE HEARD SONGS LIKE, "WILD" AND, YOU KNOW, "IMPR IM-- IMPRISONEDY POVERTY."
WHENEVER WILLIS CALLS, I USUALLY TRY TO BE THERE, IF I CAN.
>> CHRIS MARTIN, HE PLAYS -- HE'S BEEN A FRIEND FOR YEARS.
>> WHENEVER WILLIS WOULD NEED A BAND, HE KIND OF LIKE WOULD BORROW PARTS AND PIECES OF MY BAND, AND YOU KNOW, PLAY AROUND PARTIES AND DIFFERENT THINGS.
>> AND CASOWITCH, HE CAME TO MY DOOR.
>> I CAME TO GODDARD COLLEGE IN 1995.
KIND OF -- I WAS LIKE, WHAT KIND OF MUSIC SCENE DO WE HAVE HERE AT GODDARD COLLEGE, IN PLAINFIELD, AND CENTRAL VERMONT, AND SOMEONE, YOU KNOW, HANDED ME THE WILLIS TAPE, THE ONE AND ONLY RECORDING THAT WILLIS HAD AT THE TIME, WHICH WAS CALLED THE LOST PARADOX, AND I LISTENED TO THAT ALL THE WAY THROUGH, AND THAT AFTERNOON WAS LIKE, I HAVE GOT TO MEET THIS GUY.
>> HE LIKE -- HARD TO LOST PARADOX, AND HE HAD TO MEET ME.
I FOUND OUT WHERE HE LIVES AND WHAT HE DRANK AND KNOCKED ON HIS DOOR, AND -- >> HE COMES DOWN AND I GO HEY, COME ON IN.
>> I SAT ON HIS COUCH, WATCHED TV, BROKE 40-OUNCE BEERS FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.
>> I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT HE COULD PLAY BASS SO HE WAS MY FRIEND FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS BEFORE HE WAS MY BASS PLAYER.
>> HE GOT A CALL FROM FISHMAN SAYING, THE BOND WANTS YOU TO OPEN FOR THEM IN PEPSI, ARENA IN, ALBANY, NEW YORK, IN 1997.
>> ABOUT 25,000, I THINK, THAT'S WHAT THE ARENA HOLDS, YEAH.
>> I TURNED TO HIM, AND I SAID, DO YOU HAVE A BAND?
WHO ARE YOU GOING TO PLAY WITH?
HE'S LIKE, I HAVE GOT TO FIGURE THAT OUT, AND HE'S LIKE, I AM AVAILABLE, I CAN PLAY SOMETHING.
WHAT DO YOU NEED, GUITAR, BASS, DRUMS, AND WHATEVER.
IT HAPPENED TO BE A BASS PLAYER THAT HE NEEDED AT THAT TIME, SO I BORROWED SOMEONE'S BECAUSE AND TWO WEEKS LATER I WAS OPENING UP FOR PHISH IN FRONT OF 17,000 PEOPLE.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE HATED US, SOME PEOPLE LOVED US.
WE WERE WALKING AROUND LIKE EVEN THE GUYS TELLING US TO GO AND SIT DOWN, AND IT'S LIKE OPENING ACT, LIKE WE WERE KINGS FOR THE DAY OR SO, AND OUR HEADS MUST HAVE BEEN THIS BIG FOR A WEEK AFTER.
♪ ♪ >> IN THE SUMMERTIME, WILLIS WILL BE DOWNSTAIRS IN HIS APARTMENT WITH HIS SHIRT OFF WAILING ON HIS GUITAR AND SINGING TO THE WORLD.
I FEEL LIKE HE IS -- HE'S JUST A STANDARDER BEARER FOR PLAINFIELD IN THAT REGARD.
>> HE'S GOING TO BE HERE -- HE'S ALWAYS INTO MUSIC.
HE'S ALWAYS PLAYING MUSIC.
AND HE'S ALWAYS TRYING TO BRING HIS MUSIC ALL OVER THE PLACE.
>> I WAS LIKE, YOU WERE PASSING OUT.
I GO LIKE THIS.
>> THIS WAS THE GODDARD MUSIC BUILDING.
WE USED TO REHEARSE UPSTAIRS IN THE BUILDING HERE.
PHISH REHEARSED HERE, AND THAT WAS WHERE MY DRUMS WERE WHEN I WAS A STUDENT HERE, AND A COUPLE OF MY BANDMATES WERE STUDENTS HERE.
HE COMES WALKING IN, AND IT'S AUGUST, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S LIKE, THE ORIENTATION WEEK FOR THE INCOMING STUDENTS, AND HE COMES IN WITH HIS -- LIKE PROBABLY THE SAME PAIR OF PANTS HE'S WEARING TODAY, AND THIS BLACK LEATHER JACKET.
AND HE'S GOT HIS GUITAR CASE, AND IT IS BEAT UP, THE ELECTRIC GUITAR CASE, AND HE'S -- YOU ARE THE PHISHMAN.
I HEARD YOU PLAY GOOD DRUMS.
I NEED A DRUMMER, I WRITE SONGS.
YEAH, I PLAY DRUMS, AND WHAT DO YOU WRITE?
WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DO YOU PLAY I?
AND HE'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, JUST -- HE SEEMS LIKE HIS WHOLE MANNER IS EXACTLY.
HOLD ON, AND I WILL SHOW YOU, AND HE OPENS HIS GUITAR ON THE HEAD STOCK, TWO OF THE TUNING PEGS WERE BENT NAILS.
AND HE LOOKED LIKE THIS HULK HOGAN WITH HIS GUITAR ON, YOU KNOW.
AND HE STARTS PLAYING WILD.
AND IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE, SUDDENLY, THERE WAS A STADIUM OF THOUSANDS IN HIS MIND, AND HE WAS ON HIS STAGE, AND HE WAS GONE, JUST TOTALLY GONE, INCREDIBLE, AND I AM LIKE, WATCHING THIS, AND JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, AND HE GETS THROUGH IT, AND HE DOES THIS THING.
AT THAT MOMENT, I HAVE TO SAY, I ACTUALLY ALMOST DROPPED TO MY KNEES.
LIKE I ALMOST INVOLUNTARY WENT OH, I WILL BE -- AND AT THAT MOMENT, I DECIDED YEAH, I SAID, I WILL DO THIS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
SO, I'VE BEEN PRETTY MUCH A WILLIS MUSICAL CAPTIVE SINCE THAT MOMENT.
>> YOU LIVED -- WHAT YEAR?
YOU LIVED IN MY ROOM HERE, RIGHT, FOR LIKE -- >> YEAH.
>> OH, RIGHT, JULIA'S ROOM IS UP IN THE CORNER?
>> YEP.
CHECK THIS OUT.
THIS IS WHERE HIS GIRLFRIEND LIVED.
>> OH, HE'S LIKE A BROTHER TO ME, I GUESS.
GOT A HEART OF GOLD.
EVEN IF HE DID NOT DO HALF THE STUFF HE DID, HE'S BEING WHO HE IS.
JUST A GREAT ALL-AROUND GUY.
AND I AM LUCKY THAT I GOT TO MEET HIM.
SPENT THE SEMESTER IN HIS DORM ROOM.
BASICALLY.
HE STAYED IN HIS GIRLFRIEND'S ROOM AND I STAYED IN MY ROOM -- HIS ROOM -- MY ROOM.
[LAUGHTER] MY ROOM, I'M TAKING OVER.
>> CAN WE GET IN?
THEY GOT IN -- THAT'S A LOT.
>> MY ROOM WAS ON THE FIRST FLOOR AROUND BACK.
>> YOURS WAS -- YEAH, NOT THIS ONE BECAUSE THAT WAS NEALE'S.
>> I WAS AROUND THE OTHER WINDOW.
>> YEAH.
I WAS CENTER ROOM, RIGHT?
THIS IS MY DORM ROOM.
>> HE STAYED UP IN HIS ROOM.
>> MY GIRLFRIEND LIVED UP IN THE CORNER ROOM AND WILLIS WAS LIVING IN HIS CAR.
YOU WERE LIVING IN YOUR CAR AND IT WAS WINTER.
WHAT WAS THE CAR THAT YOU WERE LIVING IN?
-- I REMEMBER YOU TOOK IT OUT OF A STERNUM -- UNBELIEVABLE.
>> THERE WAS A GREEN ONE, A CHEVY I WAS LIVING IN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT.
IT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT BUILDING WHERE THE BLINKING >> I REMEMBER I CALLED IT THE BISON.
>> YEAH.
>> I WOULD SAY, BASED ON THE LIMITED AMOUNT I KNOW THAT HE DEFINITELY HAS HAD THE HARDEST LIFE OF ANYONE THAT I PERSONALLY KNOW.
THROUGH ALL OF THAT, THE GUY HAS -- THERE IS NO GRUDGE AGAINST ANY INDIVIDUAL OR SOCIETY.
HE'S NOT BITTER, NOT CYNICAL, NOT -- IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE TO NOT TAKE IT OUT ON THE WORLD AROUND HIM IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM.
IT IS SO -- IT'S JUST SUCH A THING TO LIVE UP TO.
THIS GUY IS JUST INCREDIBLE.
IT'S AMAZING, YOU KNOW.
HOW CAN YOU LIVE A LIFE LIKE THAT AND BE THAT NICE OF A PERSON, YOU KNOW?
COME OUT WITH A HEART OF GOLD.
IT'S INCREDIBLE.
YEAH.
♪ ♪ >> WE ARE HERE BECAUSE WILLIS, AT THE BENEFIT TONIGHT, WE ARE PLAYING A CONCERT FOR WILLIS TO TRY TO RAISE A LITTLE MONEY FOR HIS HEALTH BUDGET BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER, AND THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO REALLY LOVE HIM, AND WE WANT TO HELP HIM OUT, AND SEE IF WE CAN, YOU KNOW, HELP FUND HIS MEDICAL CARE, AND I THINK JUST TO SORT OF RAISE HIS SPIRIT AND GIVE HIM SOME ATTENTION.
>> THIS IS LIKE, I MEAN, IT'S GREAT TO BE PLAYING WITH WILLIS, BUT, YOU KNOW, HE'S, YOU KNOW, HE HAS CANCER, AND I AM PRAYING FOR HIM, AND I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, JUST GOOD FOR WILLIS -- HIS BEING TO DO THIS.
SO I AM GLAD TO BE HERE.
I WISH THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO BE HERE.
>> YEAH.
WE ARE HAVING A BENEFIT FOR ME FOR SOMETHING THAT I AM NOT GOING TO SAY THE WORD BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE THE WORD, AND I DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT I HAVE IT.
I AM KIND OF ANGRY EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT SHOWING NOW, BUT IT'S HARD NOT TO BE ANGRY WHEN YOU HAVE GOT AN AILMENT THAT YOU DID NOT EXPECT TO HAVE.
>> SO FAR, I'VE BEEN DOING PRETTY GOOD TODAY.
I AM HOPING JUST THAT I CAN MAKE IT SO THAT AT LEAST FOR A GOOD HOUR SET.
>> HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO EAT SOMETHING BEFORE THE GIG.
>> A COUPLE OF BEARS -- THAT'S A PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THESE THINGS, TOO.
THEY MAKE EVERYTHING TASTE BAD.
LIKE TODAY, I ORDERED THAT BACON, AND I ENDED UP CANCELING IT, BUT I DIDN'T EVEN FEEL LIKE EATING THAT.
>> YEAH, BUT YOU KNOW -- >> I AM ALSO DOING A TEA, WHICH IS GOOD FOR CANCER.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> GOOD TO SEE SOME OF THE PEOPLE I HAVE NOT SEEN IN YEARS.
A LOT OF GOOD FRIENDS, LIKE AN OLD BOSS.
BUT, A LOT OF PEOPLE I HAVE NOT SEEN FOR A WHILE.
>> SO THIS SHOW TONIGHT IS GOING TO BE A GRAND CELEBRATION OF ROCK 'N' ROLL, OF YOUR LIFE, OF YOUR WORK, OF YOUR MUSIC, AND I AM TRULY HONORED AND PART OF MAKING IT A REALITY FOR YOU.
I WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW, IF YOU ARE JUST ARRIVING, THERE ARE NO COSTS FOR ADMISSION.
WE ARE ASKING EVERYBODY TO DIG DEEP AND GIVE WHAT YOU CAN, WHATEVER YOU CAN.
ALL THE PROCEEDS YOU GIVE OUT TONIGHT WILL GO TO WILLIS TO SUPPORT HIM AS HE MOVES FORWARD.
SO WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ADIEU, ARE WE READY?
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] ARE WE READY?
ARE WE READY?
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> JONATHAN FISHMAN!
PERCUSSION!
CHRIS MARTIN, LEAD GUITAR!
JOHN KASKAWITZ.
AND THE MAN OF THE HOUR, J. WILLIS PRATT!
AND THIS COULD BE COULD BE.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> I THINK I NEED A BREAK.
>> ARE YOU OKAY?
>> YEAH.
>> I THINK I NEED A BREAK, IF WE CAN PLAY MORE, WE WILL, BUT I THINK I NEED A BREAK NOW.
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THAT SET.
>> ALL RIGHT, WILLIS!
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] >> A PLEASURE!
>> NOBODY LIVES TO ROCK MORE THAN J. WILLIS PRATT.
IT'S TRUE.
[APPLAUSE] >> HE LIVES THE MOST TO ROCK.
IT'S A LESSON FOR US ALL TO ETERNAL LIFE.
>> HE'S INFLUENCED ME NOT ONLY MUSICALLY, BUT ALSO, JUST AS A HUMAN BEING.
I HAVE ALWAYS LEARNED FROM HIM, AS FAR AS HOW TO BE A BETTER PERSON.
>> I THINK JUST WILLIS IS A -- AN INSPIRATION THAT IF, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO PLAY AND YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING THAT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL SOMETHING, YOU CAN DO IT, AND WILLIS IS ALWAYS, FROM THE FIRST TIME I HEARD HIM, YOU KNOW, HE'S -- HE INSPIRES ME.
>> I KNOW A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE, BUT LIKE IN A WAY, I KIND OF DON'T KNOW ANYONE THAT GREAT.
JUST WITH THE BEST ATTITUDE.
IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE.
YEAH.
>> I SEE EVERYBODY IS TALKING TO YOU, AND IT'S LIKE A PRETTY SPECIAL MOMENT, YOU KNOW.
WHAT SOME LAST MESSAGES FROM YOU, THAT YOU WANT YOUR FAN BASE TO HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING TO THE SHOW.
I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE NEXT ONE.
THANKS.
THANKS FOR HELPING ME BECOME WHO I AM.
WHO I AM TRYING TO BE.
I WILL FIGURE IT OUT ONE DAY.
>> VERMONT PBS.
PARTNERING WITH LOCAL FILM-MAKERS TO BRING YOU STORIES MADE HERE.
FOR MORE, VISIT VERMONTPBS.ORG.
Made Here is a local public television program presented by Vermont Public
Sponsored in part by the John M. Bissell Foundation, Inc. | Learn about the Made Here Fund