Gregory Willis, known by many is G-Wyll is unlike most subway performers. G-Wyll grew up in Atlanta Georgia where even at a young age music was deeply a part of his life. He said in a documentary by Joey Cardella that at a young age he saw his family listen to music during parties and saw how the music changed the mood of everyone. Elevating them into feelings that he’s never seen before, this inspired him to learn how to play music himself. So that he can share good feelings and happiness with all. At the age of seven his aunt gave him his first guitar where as before he made do with a broomstick and a couple of strings. At the age of ten he told his mother that he knew he was going to do this as a job. Finally G-Wyll got his first big break when he moved to New York City thanks to a good friend of his soon after high school. Here he quickly got noticed by the company Broadcast Music, BMI for short where he had a job writing music for them.
As of now he’s been in the music business for over thirty years at this point and his outlook on life as a whole has changed. He said “In the past my goal was getting myself signed but now I’m not signed and I won’t be anytime soon.” He refuses to get himself signed because he believes you should “live for yourself” and not have anyone control you or your artistic ability. Now he works as a freelance playing in many establishments at night and playing in the subway at day. He says he doesn’t play in the subway for income but rather does it because he is fascinated by the people. He plays in many locations such as Penn Station, 34th street, and the location we met him at 42nd st. First he started playing in the subway doing covers of popular songs but now he gained the confidence to play his own music of which he has many. This has enabled him to gain a small following on social media which has recently put him into the spotlight again. As of recent he has been working on a Gospel themed album. He believes he got as far as he did because of God’s will, going as far as naming himself G Wyll as a play on of the term God’s Will. Now he wants to spread the word of God to other people in subway and through his published music. Of course while not forgetting his roots and remembering to play in order to share good feelings with all.
Works Cited
njebesvideos. “G-Wyll – Reborn Documentary.” YouTube, YouTube, 16 Jan. 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVkW8CqQPNY.
“G-Wyll.” SoundCloud, soundcloud.com/user-123155529/albums.
