how it began 98 by jwillis pratt I got my frist guitar in 1973-74 I asked the kid if he was sure he wanted to

trade he said h e was sure but it DIDN’T take long for him to CHANGE his mind. I told him a deals a deal. I didn’t take music to SERIOUS back in the old days.never gave rock stardom a thought until I traded a mini bike for a stack of vinyl WHICH included the beach boys led zeppelin grand funk the stones the eagles the beetles 10cc / car DR hook cream and Clayton Boston and many more . on augurs 23 1980 I left mapehill a group home I lived at till I was 18 . got my first apt in plainefield VT . the first job I had was a s stage hand & prop person for the two penny circus .a vermont based theater group . then I worked at McDonnell’s for 6 months then I mouthed off to the boss and got fired I still think I was in the right . then I worked at 2 different burger kings .

I lived on streets	for about sixyears
some times I only eat a box	of KRAFTMACARONI

And CHESe . back then a 40 only coast $1.00 I know PEOPLE say you should get your PRiorities STRighT i would say filling good is high on my list you. SHOULD try living in a car for a wile I worked at a egg farm for a week or two ,would you BELIEVE they fired me BEcAUSe I SMELLED bad ? I DIDN’T have place I could shower every day some times I would go to the GoDDarD pool room to stay warm I got pretty good for that table ;after years odd jobs ,this nice COUPLE came to town. I stacked fire wood hung plastic & odds n ends for them one I went to eat at LICKETY-SPLIT and tom asked if I wanted do DISH’S in EXCHANGE for food so I did, they liked the way I worked and asked if id like to take the job full time I said yes, that job lasted 2 -YEARS . I worked at LuMS about 2 years than got fired they were wrong

how it all began 4/4/98 rock it HAPPENED a long time ago when a band named phISH came to GoDDard

and played in the hay barn. I DIDN’T care for the music at FIRST I think the guys were filling good It was. the THIRD time I though they sounded - ok but its not REALLY not my type of music. me and FISHMAN always ARGUED about wHO was great and who sucked I still say kiss is better then ac/dc but I love ac/dc to . he calls me a PILFic song writer . well any way I walked up and talked to the band and pLAYED wild on trays guitar they got a kick out of it especially FISHMAN .LUCky for me two of the band members DECIDED to go to GoDDarD .when PEOPLE saw me COMING they know I was going to ask have you seen fish, he was a hard guy to track down we practiced in goddards music building . we talked about MAKING a album years before the lost paradox my FIRST album came out i played MEAN on trays guitar once at nectars i also opened for the dude of life. back when I played RODE for phISH . I lived in FISHMANs dorm room a whole SEMESTEr wile he stayed in GIRL FRIENDS ROOM I called MYSELF the none STUDENt student .now YEarS later I met my KEYBOARD player, drew GATTo he lived down the road from me for at least a year be we became band mates . but after the FIRST time we PRACTICED in my aPARTmet I liked the way we sounded then I told drew i wanted to start a band so we did we had a GUITARIST jon NEVIl but he DIDN’T fit in so for live shows we dont have lead. BECAUSE I ALWAYS forget my LYRICs but we put on good show. my BASeIS john kasiewicz was at a friends WHERE he heard the lost paradox . he just had to come and meet me he BROUGHT a COUPLE 40s, that was cool. we HUNG out a bit but it was a year or so before he became a band member .we DONt have a PERMANENT DRUMMER .Ill take the fhisman as long as HES AVAILABLE for the studio im the singer song writer my second album bleeding in a sharks tank came in the late fall 19\97.and the band has its name JwIlLiS PRatT and WERE bionic .and the new album is in the MAKING rythym of the sun

I’ive played club toast a few times whit and WHIT out a band,i PREFER the band. we just opened for phISH in ALBANY ny on dec 13^th 1997/// ;next show club toast / 98 ape 19 check out OUR web site HT.//www.goddard.edu/wgdr/WILLiS/ thE lost pratt,htm paradox on tape is AVAILABLE from j WILLiS PratT PO box 204 plainfield vt. 05667 $10.oo + $2.oo for SHIPPING & handling jwillis PratT noW a story by art edelstein jonfishman helps j willis PRatT toward musical fame.makeing sure WILLiS has all the opportunities any rock star could ask for. WILLiS and his band WERE bionic recently opened up fore phISH in albany one of americas top rock bands on small feat for any musician that HASN’T play out much at albany concert jon FISHMAN INTRODUCED willis

as one of greatest and most prolific SONG writers in the world.’ so visible is WILLiS be coming’that HI name is bandied about the FISH net news group (rec.music.phish) as if he were a member of the band. he is also mentioned as a ROAD and spiritual adviser in the PHiShING manual . WILLiS recently released his second album bleeding in a sharks tank .willis thanks jon FISHMAN for helping his career. and being part of the band.willis and FISHMAN have ben FRIENDS since the mid 80,s .WILLiS music has fresh innocence that savvy musicians look for. it is a style he described as punk metal its AGGRESSIVE but not ignorant or with a bad ATTITUDE WILLiS says my music is more positive and humorous it was this quality jon liked. I played my song wild for the band FISHMAN liked it somehow we connected . WILLiS is self taught. WILLiS has over songs to be recorded his talent be not playing other peoples music . I decided to write my own its more fun.he said I DON put the words down some times I forget my lyrics I DIDN’T think musicians could follow me, im supposed to have weird timeing.that is why his live shows have been limited.he has played in burlington at club toast and nectars & gallaghers in waitsfield, however , FIshMAN who plays on all hiss ALBUMS likes the weirdness of his music in a article in modern drummer magazine fhisman listed WILLiS album the lost paradox as one most representative of my drumming above all the phISH albums he has recorded. JOHN kasiewicz base player for j willis PratT and WERE bionic says willis,style the music is a series of elements that form a different show every time about performing with willis its a game of follow the leader it develops my listening skills I have to watch willis. the music he plays is a little bit of intuition and a ton of magic .WILLiS said he like to play more shows this cd/ is not on any record label its in a few local stores /already he is working on his next album.he believes his connection to phISH could push cd sales WILLiS said he hopes fish DONSnt forget to mention his albums in the news letter he believes word of mouth from the albany show and all talk about him on the INTERNEt should push sales and help book concerts. WILLiS said he hopes cd sales and a few local bookings will help bank roll his FIRST us tour until then ill keep writing songs and DEVELOPING his unique playing THe end/////// story by j WILLiS PRatt////otc 29\96 the CUDDLY little kiten///////////////////////////////////////////////the CUDDLY little KITTEN woke from his long cat nap to a bright suny day .boy it good day to play bot were was ervery buddy ? boby looked up and down the street but no oen was to be found this sadden the LITTLE kitten. I will go to the other side of the street mybe therd be some one I could play with. we could chase string jump on a bed or chase our tails or resel or some thing so a cross the road the little kitten went and up some steps in to a big house. frist boby went in to one room then another but the house was EMPTY ther was no one to play with here MAYBE the next house has friends to play with even a dog . I just want to play all day. so on he went to look for a friend. he saw something way down the road. could it be another cat ? he ran as fast as a flash up to what tunned out to be a pile of cloths ina CHEER then a big scary dog came out on porch .and said hay you ther who are you and what do you want . I just want to playnot. here you cant play ‘ why not asked the little kitten. BECAUSE this my house and I say you cantandi think ill just chase you down the street ,thats not being a nice.dog.who ever said i was nice ? well its a good thing to be nice ho ya the dog starded to chase boby but boby was fast and out ran the dog . a lady came out to yell at the dog.roy get over here you bad dog.roy slowley CROUCHED back to the porch.ill get you next time cat said roy..no you wont said boby.and im not a cat mi a kitten. so WHAT’S the DIFFERENCE ? asked roy. well for one cats are bigger then kittens and older to,how old are youasked roy? I dont realy know’not very old. you say your looking for friends to play with ? yes will you be my friend ?no me friends with a cat what would all other dogs think ? who cares what other dog think ?who made the rule that cat and dog cant be friends ? thats just the way it is said roy.nonsense we could be friends if you try.well if I be your friend what will you give me asked roy ?I will give you nothing said BOBBY. but thats not a DALE ,just go away now.barked the dog . no no you have it all wong you dont pay to have friends, you dont I geuss I wouldent know I dont have any friends, yes you do you have me.but cant be mean to pepol or cats or other dogs or cats or other dogs .well ill try to be nice said roy,lets play chase. so boby and roy played for a wile then boby sugeled next to roy and they boht took a little nap when they woke roy said im hungry . how about you kid asked roy ? yha im hungry to replide boby.i KNOW a RESTAURANT were the cook THRUSH out some good scraps. soon down behind the RESTAURANT .hi you guys look hungry,the cook said. meow said the kitten raf raf said the dog. and cook gave them BROUGHT some stake. but soon there more cats and dogs then you could shake a STICK at..that was a good meal said boby. yha hay all THESE ANIMALS come from asked roy ?I dont know mabe they would like to play with us said boby . but on buddy wanted to play BECAUSE they were to full or to TIRED or just to lazy.hay want to come meet my humans roy ? on that if they dont like me asked roy they will like you if your good and dont bark or bite them. I wont bite them boby .ok then lets go .so of to bobys house they went.the door was open so they just walked in. a little girl called out look mom a dog can we keep it. no said mom im SHORE he has a family who would miss him. like you would miss boby then .the little girl picked up the kitten .who was looking up at her FROM the floor.and he BEGAN to per HAPPILY . but I want a dog to. MAYBE will get one some day said mom . the little girl went over to pet roy. roy liked that. nice family YOU’VE got here said roy.yes I know they feed me well and treat me like a king .I can tell with that belly said roy JOKINGLY. what you think im fat asked BOBBY. noi was just kidding you silly kitten ,ho ok . it was GETTING late so roy had to go home.see you TOMORROW cat said roy . good night roy said BOBBY will play more games to tomorrow MAYBE THERE would be more friends to play whit , so for now the two parted EaRLY the next morning the little kitten woke to a heavy down poor this made him sad BECAUSE now he could not go to play with the dog so he just LAID THERE.boy it sure would be nice to go out ot play with my new friends said boby.i hope the sun comes out to day said roy to him salf.i had a lot of fun with CUDDLY little kitten. a few hours later the sun did come out ,and BOOTH friends DASHED to greet EACH other. hi roy hi boby.lets play chase .can I play to asked wendy a little ORANGE kitten .why SHORE do you have any more friends that would like to play asked roy. i THINK I could find some play mates said wendy so the SEARCH begain.soon they came to a PORCH were abig cat was laying hay you THERE want play with us all 3 asked ?no not to day im tired said the big cat . come on you ALWAYS lay around said wendy .so im lazy said the big cat. well if you change your mind will be just down the road looking for new friends. THEIRS more to life then playing you know said the big cat. YEA so what were YOUNG and have a lots time.said BOBBY dont waste it said the big cat. who WASTING time now just laying about all day cant be good said roy. allright you made your point I go play with you my name is sovester . hi im wendy hi im BOBBY hi im roy. good to have you with.us . well lets play and then im going to come back and eat a big lunch said the big cat. looks like you just had lunch REPLIED roy. VERY funny dog said sovester. then they came ACROSS large FIELD .this looks like a good play said boby.ther was a old ABANDON barn to play hide in seek in the friends played all day they played so hard they got tired even was to TIRED to go home. the next MORNING they all had to go home to eat and visit with THERE humans. so they WOULDN’T be sad bob sat in tims lap and pered hows my cuddly little kitten asked tim ? BOBBY looked up at tim as to say I love you to dady.all the other ANIMALS were do ing just about the same thing. sovesters dad was playing his guitar wile sovester LISTENED . and PURRED his dad would TAKE a brake and pet him . good to be home said sovester good to be home said wendy good to be home said roy good to be home said boby .the cuddly little kitten the end charlie horse and mr sun, by j wills pratt / otc 28/96 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// one day on the farm as mr sun rose in to the morning sky,he says, good morning such a beautiful day. then he looks down and sees the sad little horse. hey ther whats wrong, why so sad” oh ih ther mr sun, im so lonely and board I have no life. I just eat hay and run in the field all day.i some times give children rides. when night comes’’