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Nathaniel Ayers is a violin prodigy who trained at the Julliard School of Music, but ended up homeless and playing on the streets of Los Angeles after suffering from schizophrenia.
Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez chronicled his relationship with Ayers after meeting the musician in downtown L.A. in 2005. Lopez compiled the columns into a book, and the book was adapted into the 2009 film The Soloist, in which Jamie Foxx plays Ayers and Robert Downey Jr. portrays Lopez.Columbus Dispatch: OSU Professor Briefly Taught Nathaniel Ayers (April 24, 2009)
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Fast Facts
- Born: January 22, 1951
- Sister: Jennifer Ayers-Moore, the Chairwoman and Founder of the Nathaniel Anthony Ayers FoundationNAAyers.org: The Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Foundation (NAAF)
- Attended Julliard in New York CityColumbus Dispatch: OSU Professor Briefly Taught Nathaniel Ayers (April 24, 2009)
- 1908: Attended Ohio State University for one quarter before moving to CaliforniaColumbus Dispatch: OSU Professor Briefly Taught Nathaniel Ayers (April 24, 2009)
- 2005: LA Times columnist Steve Lopez wrote about his relationship in a series of columnsColumbus Dispatch: OSU Professor Briefly Taught Nathaniel Ayers (April 24, 2009)
- Lopez's columns were adapted into the bestselling book The Soloist: A Lost Dream, An Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of MusicColumbus Dispatch: OSU Professor Briefly Taught Nathaniel Ayers (April 24, 2009)
- Lopez ran into Ayers near Pershing Square in Los Angeles and began trying to find him help
- Frequented Pershing Square because of the statue of Ludwig van Beethoven there
- Began playing the string bass in junior high playing the sting bass and then learned to play the cello
- Switched to the violin when he became homeless because it was easier to carry around
- His sister claimed the film A Beautiful Mind reminded her of her brother
- Lopez wrote that Ayers cared very little about the money passersby drop in his case
- Ayers refused money from Lopez
- LA Times readers donated instruments to Ayers instruments after reading Lopez's columns
- The Soloist was filmed in Cleveland, Ohio
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Managed By: camilla
Managed Since: 06/02/2009
Views: 6,378
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Managed Since: 06/02/2009
Views: 6,378
Money Earned: M$4.30
Page revenue is subject to change as we obtain data from our partners
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LA Times: Steve Lopez on Nathaniel Anthony Ayers - Full Series of Columns
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YouTube: The Soloist: Steve Lopez and Nathaniel Anthony Ayers (Time: 3:58)
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Cleveland.com: Nathaniel Ayers' Teacher Remembers a Gifted Student
cleveland.com (April 24, 2009) -
NAAyers.org: The Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Foundation (NAAF)
naayers.org -
NPR: Homeless Violinist, Journalist Forge Unlikely Friendship
npr.org (April 22, 2008) -
Columbus Dispatch: OSU Professor Briefly Taught Nathaniel Ayers
columbusdispatch.com (April 24, 2009) -
Philadelphia Inquirer: Ex-Philly Scribe Back With 'Best Story I Ever Had'
philly.com (April 20, 2008)
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LA Times: Steve Lopez on Nathaniel Anthony Ayers - Full Series of Columns
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Nathaniel Ayers on Amazon | View All
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60 Minutes - Mr. Ayers and Mr. Lopez (March 22, 2009) - $17.95
Airdate 3/22/09Â Nathaniel Ayers was a promising Juilliard cellist until schizophrenia ended his studies and his career. Ayers became homeless -- performing in parks and on the streets, barely noticed by passersby. That was until Los Angel...
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Nathaniel Ayers on Twitter Powered by Twitter
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Com vocês o fantástico-emocionante: Mr. Ayers, Nathaniel Anthony Ayers http://bit.ly/2tY1Vh
@ThalesAquino | November 08, 2009 11:04 PM -
I gotta say.. 90 pages and Nathaniel Ayers inspires me more and more.
@dinnac4t | November 08, 2009 03:04 PM -
Steve Lopez on Nathaniel Anthony Ayers . What an inspiring story: http://bit.ly/q1dgb
@karranfinlay | November 08, 2009 06:45 AM -
Estreia de hoje: O Solista - http://tinyurl.com/yfrtph2 - história do prodígio musical Nathaniel Ayers, que desenvolveu esquizofrenia
@magicbusbr | November 06, 2009 05:12 PM
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Questions and Answers About Nathaniel Ayers | View All | Ask a Question
View All Nathaniel Ayers Questions (9) | Ask a QuestionName of Nathaniel Ayers, The Soloist, CD? (1 Answer)I cannot find any record of a recording, per say. However, if such a recording exists in some Juilliard archive, for instance, there is a very good change it will ... read morewhere is and how is nathaniel Ayers living now and is the soloist donating profits to the NAAF? and what percentage? (1 Answer)Check out the links below for a concise answer to your question. read morewhat is "I need that coke(crunk)when I'm up in the club, Even my Chevy that pull up on dubs,Give me that drop yellow waist like a drug"mean? (1 Answer)The actual lyrics are "I need that coke when I'm up in the club, Even my Chevy that pull up on dubs, Give me that drop ya know bass like ... read more
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