He saw a cyclist cartwheel off his bike and slam facefirst into the unforgiving asphalt of riverside drive. The soloist tells the story of nathaniel ayers, a homeless cellist who has schizophrenia. Steve describes himself in the situation as intellectually challenged at every turn. Quotes by steve lopez a friend is someone who inspires, who challenges, who sends you in search of some truer sense of yourself. A moving story of a remarkable bond between a journalist in search of a story and a homeless, classically trained musiciandestined to be a major motion picture from. The soloist is a 2009 drama film directed by joe wright, and starring jamie foxx and robert downey jrit is based on the book of the same title by steve lopez. Goofs in his commentary during the scene when lopez meets ayers in the tunnel, director joe wright admits that the traffic is all vehicles from the production going around and around at approx. Joe wrights the soloist is based on the book which chronicles the actual friendship between steve lopez and nathaniel ayers which began in 2005. A lost dream, an unlikely friendship, and the redemptive power of music steve lopez, 2008 penguin group usa 304 pp. A lost dream, an unlikely friendship, and the redemptive power of music, is a work of nonfiction that charts the experience of the musician nathaniel ayers. When steve lopez saw nathaniel ayers playing his heart out on a twostring violin on. The soloist directly recounts this unusual, ultimately heartwarming tale, but not before the author takes readers on a harrowing journey through the tougher elements of both mentalhealth treatment and the lower depths of downtown l.
A lost dream, and unlikely friendship, and the redemptive power of music. I also have a friend who studied piano at juilliard in the early 70s. More than 30 years ago, ayers was a promising student at julliard ambitious, charming and hugely talented until he gradually lost his ability to function, overcome by schizophrenia. The book inspired the recently released movie the soloist starring. Hidden in plain sight just down the street from city hall and mere steps from the. This is the true story of journalist steve lopezs discovery of nathaniel ayers. A moving story of the remarkable bond between a journalist in search of. Lopez published a book about ayers called the soloist. The soloist by steve lopez, signed abebooks passion for books. It begins in 2005 when lopez, on the lookout as always for a good column idea, hears a violin on the streets of downtown l.
Based on a true story, its about what happens when steve lopez robert downey jr. A lost dream, an unlikely friendship, and the redemptive power of music, was based on his relationship with ayers. The soloist by lopez, steve and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Books go search best sellers gift ideas new releases whole foods todays deals amazonbasics coupons gift cards customer service free shipping shopper toolkit registry sell. A lost dream, an unlikely friendship, and the redemptive power of music, putnam adult. The soloist overcame his homelessness with a little help from his friends and family. Lopezs initial column on ayers drew wide attention, and eventually spawned many more, as lopez gradually became intimately involved in his subjects past and future. If the soloist had a subtitle, it could well be my brothers keeper. The soloist was published in 2009 and features the reallife story of nathaniel ayers. As steve lopez wryly observes in the soloist, in music there is always. More than 30 years ago, ayers was a promising classical bass student at juilliard ambitious, charming, and also one of the few africanamericans there until he gradually lost his ability to function, overcome by schizophrenia. Thank you penguin books and mr lopez for sharing this today.
Steve lopez joins nathaniel in skid row for a night. In 2009, the soloist was made into a movie starring robert downey jr. The author steve lopez digs deep into the life of anthony ayers, the cello, violin, piano genius and his mental illness. Lopez questions why so talented a musician is clearly homeless and reduced. If youre interested in classical music, especially the violin or cello, and love to read about the lives of musicians, then this touching, heart. In 2009, the soloist was made into a movie starring robert.
A california native, lopez is the author of three novels and a book of nonfiction, the soloist. I have lived in both places so the familiarity with the places was a bonus. Fortunately, the soloist s complex story is not easily destroyed. There is a film version of the soloist, starring jamie foxx as ayers and robert downey jr. I picked up this book because i have a nathaniel in my life, and i hope every day that i can be the kind of friend steve lopez was. How do you think families should handle a mentally. Nathaniel was homeless, playing a violin that only had two strings but the music drew steve to nathaniel and this now a famous story.
Steve lopez is the author of several books, including the sunday macaroni club and the soloist. The soloist by steve lopez book cover, description, publication history. Steve lopez is married and has two sons and a daughter. The soloist by steve lopez was a smooth and graceful read. When steve lopez sees nathaniel ayers playing his heart out on a tw.
The soloist movie tiein and millions of other books are available for instant access. The paperback edition of the soloist, which i read, has pictures of jamie foxx and. An added delight were the references to cleveland and l. That is when he discovers nathaniel ayers, a mentally ill, homeless street musician who possesses extraordinary talent, even through his halfbroken instruments. The book has been adapted into a film and a play titled the soloist, released april 24, 2009, with. The soloist based on the true story of musical prodigy nathaniel ayers, who developed schizophrenia in his second year at juilliard and ended up homeless on the streets of downtown l. Steve starts conversations that he hopes will get nate thinking that a roof over his head would be good. One of steve s goals in the book is to shed light on the homeless situation on skid row and the mental health problems that most of the people there suffer, going into some depth regarding different forms of therapy and medication. The soloist overcame his homelessness with a little help. He was the subject of steve lopez s bestselling book, the soloist as well as the movie based on that book starring robert downey jr.
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