Two strings on a violin was all Nathaniel Ayers needed to move both Steve Lopez and readers of the Los Angeles Times said Lopez as he spoke at the Oxnard College Speaker Series at Oxnard College on Oct. 21.
The event drew a crowd as students, faculty, staff and community members filled up the auditorium and an extended room directly across from it, eager to hear Lopez lecture.
Lopez focused on the anecdotes from his book-turned-movie “The Soloist,” primarily on his powerful relationship with homeless prodigy musician Nathaniel Ayers.
Lopez started the lecture plunging his audience back in time to 2005, the first time he met Ayers. Lopez had been a journalist working for the Los Angeles Times when he stumbled upon Ayers playing the violin on the street.
“The violin he was playing had two strings, yet, that didn’t stop him from getting consumed into his music,” said Lopez. “That was what originally drew me into meeting him.”
He noted that Ayers was frightened and reserved the first time they met.
Lopez’s motivation on interviewing Ayers not only came from Ayer’s unique character and life (his mental disability, homelessness and desire for music), but that Lopez was shocked on how many homeless people roamed Skid Row, known for prostitution, buglary and homeless people.
“It’s a snapshot of all the failures in life,” said Lopez. “How does this exist and society isn’t doing anything about it?”
He discovered some interesting things about the homeless musician’s past.
As a gifted student in school, Ayers won a schloparship to the elite music institute, The Julliard School of Music.
One day, Ayers had a mental breakdown, dropped out of school and left his mother’s care to live on the streets.
As soon as Lopez wrote the articles on Ayers, he started receiving calls from readers stating that they were willing to donate instruments to Ayers, any way to help him. Lopez found this remarkable reaction from readers as a turning point in his life.
His relationship with Nathaniel got deeper and Lopez started helping him out in any way he could including visiting him at a local mental rehabilitation center in downtown Los Angeles, finding him an apartment and later setting him up meetings with famous musicians.
Lopez ended the experience of writing about Ayers with a new weight to the word friend.
“The day I met him was a lucky day,” said Lopez. “I learned true friendship, and that is worth more than anything.”
There was nothing but positive reviews from the event.
“I’ve been a fan of Lopez since the ‘Soloist’ book came out,” said 18-year-old Veronica Heery, geology major at Ventura College. “I had to come see him when I’d found out he would be here. Mr. Lopez is a great speaker just as he is a great writer.”
Others were impressed with Lopez’s unconditional generosity.
“It was good hearing his relationship with the musician,” said 24-year-old Andy Ortega, an undecided major. “What he did to Nathaniel, helping him with everything that shows great character.”
