>>> NEW YORKERS NEVER HAVE BEEN
PHASED BY MUCH OF WHAT THEY SEE
AS THEY HUSTLE ABOUT THEIR LIVES
AROUND THE CITY.
THE SIGHT OF A MAN PUSHING AN
800-POUND GRAND PIANO THROUGH
THE STREETS IS JUST ANOTHER DAY
IN THE VILLAGE.
IN OUR SUNDAY CLOSER, HARRY
SMITH CHECKS IN ON THE CLASSICAL
PIANIST WHOSE OUTDOOR CONCERTS
HAVE MADE HIM A GREAT CHARACTER
IN THE STORY OF NEW YORK.
♪
>> Reporter: AS STREET MUSICIANS
GO, COLLIN HUGGENS IS UNIQUE.
HE HOLDS FORTH ON HIS PIANO
SEVERAL DAYS A WEEK IN NEW
YORK'S WASHINGTON SQUARE.
THE MUSIC, CLASSICAL.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WAS WHEN
YOU FIRST STARTED TO PERFORM ON
THE STREET THAT CAPTURED YOU?
>> PLAYING ON THE STREETS IS
UNIVERSALLY A DIFFERENT
EXPERIENCE THAN PLAYING ANYWHERE
ELSE.
YOU WILL SEE PEOPLE THAT HAVE NO
INTEREST IN ME AS A PERSON.
THEY DON'T KNOW MY NAME.
THEY HEARD THE SOUND OF THE
PIANO, AND THEY WERE DRAWN TO IT
LIKE A MOTH TO A STREETLIGHT.
>> Reporter: THIS PARK HAS BEEN
HIS CONCERT HALL FOR MORE THAN A
DOZEN YEARS.
WE HAVE HEARD OF SUFFERING FOR
YOUR ART AND HUGGENS IS A LIVING
TESTAMENT TO THAT.
MOVING ALMOST 1,000 POUNDS OF
KEYBOARD ACROSS THE CITY.
HE STOPS TO CHECK WITH A
HOMELESS WOMAN HE KNOWS WELL.
>> I WILL BE RIGHT BACK.
>> Reporter: HE IS A FRIEND TO
MANY ON THE MARGINS HERE.
I HOPE YOU ENJOY MY MUSIC.
IF YOU WANT TO LEAVE A DOE
FASHION
DONATION, THERE'S A BUCKET.
>> Reporter: PART OF THE
INVITATION IS TO CRAWL UNDER THE
PIANO AND EXPERIENCE ITS POWER.
♪
THE SOUND, THE VIBRATIONS, THE
UNAVOIDABLE BEAUTY OF THE MUSIC
BROUGHT THIS REPORTER TO TEARS.
WOW.
I DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING.
>> WHEN I ACTUALLY DO CONNECT
WITH PEOPLE AND REALLY PROVIDE
THAT EXPERIENCE FOR THEM THAT
MIGHT MAKE THEM HAVE SOME
POSITIVE REACTION, IT FEELS LIKE
I'M REALLY GENUINELY
CONTRIBUTING TO HUMANITY.
>> EVERYBODY IS DOING IT IN
THEIR OWN WAY.
TO FEEL THAT HEAVINESS IN THE
SONG AND BE SURROUNDED BY THESE
TWO, SPECIAL.
>> Reporter: HUGGENS HAS A
WORLDWIDE AUDIENCE, GLOBAL TOUR
I HAV
TOURISTS HAVE MADE HIM A MUST ON
THE TOUR OF THE CITY.
BECAUSE THERE ARE NO TOURISTS,
HE MAKES LESS MONEY.
HE HAS TO PLAY MORE OFTEN.
>> YOU CAN LISTEN TO ME ALL DAY
LONG, EVERY DAY AND NEVER PAY A
DIME.
I WILL BE HAPPY TO SEE YOU.
I'M GOING TO PLAY AS WELL AS I
CAN.
>> Reporter: THE PRESSURE TO
MAKE ENDS MEET, HE SAYS, IS
PUSHING HIM OUT OF THE CITY.
HIS FRIEND JOINED HIM TO PERFORM
"SONG TO THE MOON," MOON HIGH
AND DEEP IN THE SKY, YOUR LIGHT
SEES FAR, MOONLIGHT, DON'T
DISAPPEAR, DISAPPEAR.
WERE THERE A CHORUS, MANY WOULD
SING, PLEASE, COLIN, DON'T
DISAPPEAR.