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

When journalist Steve Lopez sees Nathaniel Ayers playing his heart out on a twostring violin on Los Angeles skid row, he finds it impossible to walk away. More than thirty years ago, Ayers was a promising classical bass student at Juilliardambitious, charming, and also one of the few AfricanAmericansuntil he gradually lost his ability to function, overcome by schizophrenia. Over time, the two men form a bond and Lopez imagines that he might be able to change Ayerss life. The Soloist is a beautifully told story of devotion in the face of seemingly unbeatable challenges.