Nathaniel Ayers facts for kids

Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, Jr. (born January 31, 1951) is an American musician. He became well-known because of newspaper stories, a book, and a movie called The Soloist. These stories were about his life and his love for music. In 2008, a special group was started in his name. This group helps talented people who are also dealing with mental health challenges.

Nathaniel's Early Life and Music Journey

Nathaniel Ayers started playing the double bass when he was in middle school. He was very talented and later went to a famous music school called the Juilliard School in New York. He studied there to become a professional double bassist.

Facing Challenges at Juilliard

During his second year at Juilliard, Nathaniel faced a very difficult time. He experienced a serious mental health crisis and needed to go to a hospital for help. At that time, he was one of only a few Black students at the Juilliard School.

Life After Juilliard

After leaving Juilliard, Nathaniel lived with his mother in Cleveland, Ohio. He received treatments to help with his mental health, but they did not work well for him. After his mother passed away in 2000, he moved to Los Angeles. He thought his father lived there. Sadly, Nathaniel became homeless and struggled with symptoms of schizophrenia. Despite these challenges, he continued to play music on the streets.

The Story of The Soloist

In 2005, a newspaper writer named Steve Lopez met Nathaniel Ayers in Los Angeles. Lopez was a columnist for the Los Angeles Times. He found out that Nathaniel had studied at the famous Juilliard School.

A Special Friendship Begins

Steve Lopez wrote many newspaper stories about his friendship with Nathaniel. These stories showed how Nathaniel slowly started to get help and move away from being homeless. Lopez later wrote a book about their friendship called The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music.

From Book to Big Screen

The book was made into a movie and a play, both titled The Soloist. The movie was released on April 24, 2009. In the film, actor Jamie Foxx played Nathaniel Ayers, and Robert Downey Jr. played Steve Lopez. In the movie, Nathaniel is shown playing the cello, even though he mainly played the double bass in real life.

Nathaniel and Steve's friendship was also featured on a popular TV show called 60 Minutes on CBS. This episode aired on March 22, 2009, sharing their story with many people across the country.

The Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Foundation

Nathaniel Ayers's sister, Jennifer Ayers-Moore, started a special group called the Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Foundation. This foundation began in 2008. Jennifer and Nathaniel hoped it would help thousands of people.

Goals of the Foundation

The foundation works to keep people aware of mental health issues. It also helps everyone understand how art can help people feel better and heal. The foundation works with mental health and arts groups to find and show the work of talented artists. It also gives money to other groups that share the same goals.