The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music

By: Steve Lopez

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Synopsis: When reporter Steve Lopez sees Nathaniel Ayers playing his heart out on a 2-string violin in LA's Skid Row, he finds it impossible to walk away. At first, he sees it as fodder for his column, but what Lopez begins to unearth about the mysterious street musician leaves an indelible impression. More than 30 years earlier, Ayers had been a promising classical bass student at Juilliard - ambitious, charming, and one of the few African-Americans at the school - until he gradually lost his ability to function, overcome by a mental breakdown. When Lopez finds him, Ayers is alone, suspicious of everyone, and deeply troubled, but glimmers of brilliance are still there.