Booking Information For Steve Lopez | Speaking Requests
If you would like to book Steve Lopez for speaking engagements, please contact:
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Steve Lopez Online Blog
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Steve Lopez Online Blog: Booking Information For Steve Lopez | Speaking Requests
I read the book and loved it, but somehow I wondered if Nathaniel actually suffers from schizophrenia. The book didn't seem to suggest another form of mental illness. It seemed strange to me that he could remember his outburst with you, as written at the end of the book to the point that he even apologized; And, the fact that he knew he played bad while at the clud where he was invited to share music, as recorded in an earlier chapter. I've been in recovery a few years and as I read the book I could not help but think this: a lot of his issues seem like bottled up pain. Could it be the pressures of Juillard pushed him to a point in which he just decided he would drop out...of life and society? Could it be as the pressures of life, i.e. responsibility rose it triggered anger and/or causes him to retreat, commonly known as the "Flight or Fight" pattern? To be honest when I sit in AA meetings I hear and sometimes see others like the subject of your book who have learned that "self-will run riot" can cause a lot of insanity. Again, I believe he has mental health issues yet after reading his story, and your's woven in, I seem to think maybe pain and a learned habit might be the cause of his outburst, control as well: when he feels out of control he seems to CONTROL all the more everything and everyone around him. Maybe this is why your friendship, i.e. love has been able to bring healing to him, trapping his escapes. In closing I wish there was a chapter in the book by someone in the Mental Health field that could really detail his case, giving his illness a name.
I will add this: I play music after flunking all music courses in college; I have relational issues, because of an abusive mother and no father. I DO have a chemical imbalance, hormone issues and at times question if I suffer from some form of mental illness. So I write this seeking answers not condemning. And, I will add I'm a Black Amer from a highly educated family. So, there are MANY Nathaniel's in all shapes and sizes trapped in various jobs and such here in America. Thanks for taking the time. Feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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Hi Steve. You grew up with my father and I'm hoping I can buy a book and get you to autograph it for him for father's day. Please feel free to email me at sileychic@gmail.com
Thank you so much.
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My husband and I happened to live on the same street as Steve Lopez in Philadelphia back in the 1980's. We always enjoyed reading his column in the Philly Inquirer. One particular story about Lopez,PA remains with me. My husband's mother was from that town, and always pronounced it "Lopis" as Steve had mentioned in his column.
My husband and I now live in San Diego,CA and we were thrilled to find out that the movie"The Soloist" is about one of our favorite columnists and his experience with the musician Nathaniel Ayers!
My husband Pat is a music instructor at a community college. We are going to see the movie this weekend. We'll read the book,too!
Small world! Best wishes,
Joanne
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Mr. Lopez,
I am loving the book and can't wait to see the movie. Your writing and telling of this story is beautiful. I wonder, how is Mr. Ayers doing currently? Is he still living at Lamp? Is he taking medication?
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Hi Steve,
Congratulations on your achievements.
This is Dale from The ol' Bini's Bar & Grille in San Jose. We miss you since you left The SJ Merc. It hasn't had a columnist to replace you since. Some have come close but they have been way too soft on City Hall. Bini's closed its doors in 2001 as we were forced off the property when the Produce market sold to developers. Many old timers still talk about your column. It would be nice to hear from you. We wish you much success.
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If you book Steve Lopez he'll disapoint by not showning like he did today at the Festival Of Books. We waited an hour and a half just to get our copy of The Soloist signed, they told us he would show he did not. As a way of protest don't book him. Don't go see The Soloist. Don't buy the book The Soloist. My grandma got dehydrated just for waiting for Mr. Lopez. Is that how loyal he is to his fans.I burned my copy of The Soloist in my fire place i suggest people who were there in line with me do the same if you felt disapointed.
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Mr. Sanchez, sorry for your inconvenience. If you provide a mailing address we can ship a signed copy of the Soloist to you.
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In reference to Mr. Roberto Sanchez: I must say that's a very extreme way of dealing with disappointment. I'm sure Mr. Lopez had a valid reason for not showing to an engagement. But burning his book? Wow. That's downright petty. And the fact your grandma got dehydrated is unfortunate, but I wouldn't blame everything on this event in your lives.
People should see The Soloist because it talks about issues such as tolerance, and not judging too quickly. Maybe you should pay more attention.
Who burns books? Seriously.
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Dear Mr. Lopez,
I read The Soloist, not knowing what was in store for me, having had only the most superficial knowledge of the subject matter of your book. What I did know, was that after brain surgery (Dec. of 06), my study of the bass and of music was a major contributing factor in my recovery.
Your story of the impact of Nathaniel and his love of music on your life, mirrors to a great extent the impact of music on my own life.
The effects of music on the workings of the brain are more than a little mystery. Music can and does raise us to the greatest heights or can bring us down into the depths of our soul, where every person has to reach to feel their own existence.
Thank you for putting into words a story that, I am sure, is appreciated by all who have but a bit of musician inside themselves.
Peace,
Alan
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I want to thank you on behalf of families of the mentally disabled.I have two brothers that are on the streets of L.A..Both are military Vets. Henry(Army) and Ronald(Marine) Hendricks. Henry gets a check each month because of his disability.He was taken from my mom at age 8 and placed in juve.He entered the Army, at age 17, where he was diagnosed.I thank God for that.I wished that I could locate the two of them.But, again God Bless, God bless you for the beautiful inspirational story.
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Carol SmaldinoPsychotherapist
Posted: June 10, 2009 04:30 PM
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Showing Up for "The Soloist"
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Read More: Accountability, Carol Smaldino, Colonialism, Compassion, Homelessness, Jamie Foxx, Joe Write, Racism, Robert Downey Jr, Schizophrenia, Steve Lopez, The Soloist, US Poverty, Entertainment News
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"The Soloist" was released in movie theaters on April 24, 2009. Directed by Joe Write, with a screenplay by Susanna Grant, it stars Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey, Jr.
If we aspire to give birth to our own accountability, one of its forms might translate to the notion of "showing up." As much as anything else, it involves becoming accountable for honesty about combinations of inner and outer facts and sources of distraction from the truth.
Showing up for the movie The Soloist would be to experience the grueling social phenomena of inner city poverty, schizophrenia, and racism, as well as the colonialism in attitudes of giving. Showing up would also be to recognize the impoverished spirit and emotional homelessness of the middle class anti-hero and his estranged wife who, fortunately for him, will not really go away.
This movie is not a neat story by any means, although if you believe the critics, it is artificial and exploitative. By contrast, I feel the movie illustrates how the more personal a story is, and the more we intersect with the contradictions inherent in the human condition, the more we are rendered capable of sustaining our connection to the social and personal dilemmas within. The Soloist gives us an opportunity rather than a morality play, and ours is the choice to take it.
As a psychotherapist, it is my observation that we usually approach relationships with the underprivileged and those in a position to be the benefactors as unequal and colonial; there is the sense of the more important person giving to the sorry and the pitiful one. Not so in the story of The Soloist. Not that there isn't some exploitation within the relationship, but part of the beauty of the film is that the exploitation is confronted at its core. There is no self-congratulatory crescendo.
There is a lot to take in here, especially grappling with where we the audience fit into the many pictures of social disaster and emotional richness. This is a film that can be so moving in stunningly powerful ways that it may be tempting to avoid watching it. Plus the critics' cynical accusations of exploitation might make a convenient excuse to skip it.
The Soloist, based on the book of the same name by Steve Lopez, explores the author's own experiences that began with tapping into his "hearing voices" -- hearing music out of nowhere it seemed, which was in fact coming from the two stringed violin of a homeless man. That man turned, see Huffington Post please
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Estimado Sr. Lopez.
Acabo de terminar de ver The soloist. Cuando supe que estaba basada en su libro, busque en la WWW y encontre su blog. GRACIAS... por exponer sin golpes bajos la tremenda situacion social que padecen los pobres en EEUU. Si ademas estan (como el Sr Ayers) enfermos y son afroamericanos... son doble o triplemente victimas de todo un sistema social y politico que no les ofrece ninguna salida mas que una miserable vida, y una peor muerte. Ojala su nuevo presidente tenga la sensibilidad y el coraje para realizar los cambios necesarios. No sera facil. Solo con referentes como Ud. podra hacerse la luz sobre la oscuridad que algunos requieren para perpetuar la injusticia. Gracias otra vez. Le saluda.
Dr. Alberto Tardivo
Buenos Aires, Argentina
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dear mr lopez.
my partner and i had never heard of you or mr ayers before this evening.
after watching the soloist we were very moved.
it was a beautiful tale.
we live in blackpool northwest england.
i thought i would tell you that we will be reading your book.
your a kind hearted man mr lopez.
i hope you and mr ayers remain friends
i,ll leave you with a little saying!!!
if i may.??
people are people where ever you go
but not all.
just look at mr ayers.
funny thing is
you did mr lopez.
god bless you and yours
all the best.
kenneth&vanessa frazer-jones.
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dear steve, i am a canadian psych RN at U of iowa hospitals and clinics, i saw the movie the Soloist 2 nights ago, it made me feel extra blessed to be working w/ people diagnosed w/ mental illnesses...by the way this is my fiisrt attempt ever to blog...i have a daughter age 30 w/ schizoaffective disorder who plays piano, flute and harp, and a son age 26 who plays piano since age 4 and his dad thinks he needs to be on medication...both kids have bachelor degrees...not in music..Jeffrey my son was very touched by the Soloist and admits he wept thru' most of it as he hates it when his dad tries to get him into a psychiatrist, he wishes his dad would just be more kind and loving and less goal-oriented, Jeffrey is looking in to getting a Masters in music therapy as i have always thought that this would be a good fit for him after years of pressuring himself to live up to his dad's big career standards...his dad who divoced me in 1993 is the head of audiology in the Otolaryngology dept at the U of iowa hospital, same place i work,...so Jeffrey really liked the emphasis in the Soloist about friendship and music being the focus of helping mentally ill people...i myself have made friends w/ some clients due to connections w/ my daughter Angela, i would especially like to help my friend mark emmons age 56 who began life on the stage at an early age singing and composing musicals and doing one man shows and moving to New York where he eventually burned out because of his schizophrenia...he loves to sing to me and any company i have over and sit and shoot the breeze about his days in New York. he is currently working on a musical about Al Capone and believes he is an illigitimate grandson of Al, he wants to star as Al and I have a composer friend who has been helping him get the actual notes down so that an orchestra could play them, but Merc Weber age 56, the composer moved back to LA to assist his mom w/ his dad's terminal illness and now that his dad died he is staying on to help her in other ways such as w/ her loneliness and depression, so work on the "capone show" has come to a halt for now...Marc Weber is doing gigs w/ his own type of guitar improvisation all over the La and santa barbara area...maybe you could visit his website to see his schedule and do a report on his stuff...and talk about Mark Emmons to see if we can come up w/ something to help his dream come true... i would really like my son Jeffrey to meet Ayers if we could fly out and connect w/ him at LAMP or anywhere with the music therapy stuff...my son is excellent at improsing and harmonizing along w/ other less flexible musicians...please write and let me know what you think on all this stuff i've written....thanks...leslie
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I've just watched the movie about Mr Ayers. I'm moved and awed by your courage and fortitude. There is a program airing again on February 11, 2010 titled "How the Brain Changes itself" which may or may not apply to Mr. Ayers. I'm trying to find out more about this subject for two reasons, my mom has suffered strokes and everyone has given up on her and I have a dear friend with a Downs Syndrome daughter, and want to find out how the treatment they have determined helps other parts of the brain take over and rewire when certain parts of the brain don't function well or at all. I have limited resources and time but will do whatever I can and must to learn more about these exciting, revolutionary methods that have been researched and proven, but are not well known. I'm currently working on another project which will take about a year to complete. My husband recently died from stomach cancer and I am working with an Immune System Clinic whose research needs more money and time to prove it's efficacy. Any light you can shed on my first mentioned subject, which is also called Brain Plasticity, would be something the world should know more about.
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To Mr. Steve Lopez and all who were involved on producing the movie;
Mr. Lopez, you are one in a million with the caring and fortitude to keep on going with Mr. Ayers. Music is a wonderful thing as I had started as a music major with the flute plus trained with piano and DID give it up after one quarter at UCLA. I do hope that Mr. Ayers is alright.
We have our own neurological/brain issues with a son on the Autism Spectrum to worry about, but he is progressing nicely at age 11.
I had been accepted to Boston U & Syracuse for music, but the folks told me afterward they would not pay! So as a first generation within the Los Angeles area, I stayed only to move to the East coast later.
Thank you so much for all of your hard work, dedication and great skills. The story without a closure is still inspiring. One of the kids plays Viola also age 11 (twins) and it is a great thing in between all of the electronic BS and homework, plus he is very good!
Now it is time to read your book and keep up with the blogs.
Anne
Merchandise Planner
http://www.linkedin.com/in/annekatzhanna
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Dear Mr Lopez, My husband and I went to see the Soloist today, in a theatre in Cronulla, Sydney, Australia. Really enjoyed it. We loved the way the issues were explored in the movie. Looking forward to reading the book. Keep up the good work.
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We would love to see you link to the Thousand Oaks Reads - One City One Book website. The entire community is invited to participate in the seven week celebration of _The Soloist_ which culminates with an Afternoon with Steve Lopez on November 14 at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Kavli Theatre. Book discussions, panel discussions, music events, a food drive, film screenings, informative and entertaining programs will take place throughout the seven weeks. Reading, discussing and celebrating the same book offers a powerful sense of connection and understanding. www.thousandoaksreads.org
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Thank you Steve Lopez for a rather beautiful story that has no ending but goes on...
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Hello Steve,
I always read your column first in the L.A. Times. But no more. Howcum? We saw the movie and since we had read all about Nathaniel in your columns about him, it made it all the more meaningful. Did you decide to leave the Times, or did the shrinking Times budget do you in? Whatever...we miss you and wish you well
Judge Bob Armstrong & Eleanor
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Dear Mr. Lopez,
Thank you for the movie, "The Soloist"
I have paranoid schizophrenia. The movie makes sense to me on so many different levels. I was surprised at how realistic your portrayal of Nathaniel was.
I lost my job and my husband divorced me in a matter of a few months when I became schizo symptomatic. Without the love of my mother, I would have lost my home and been on the streets as well. I can relate to Nathaniel, my Mom was all I had when I was symptomatic.
I was only out of the mental hospital for a couple of weeks when the movie hit theaters in early summer 2009. I saw it then, and I have watched it with all my family members to explain what it is like for a schizo to live without antipsychotic medication.
You nailed it--even down to the swirling colors when Nathaniel listens to music! I had a similar issue with colors. Van Gogh was also schizophrenic, and color takes a very prominent place on every single one of his canvases.
The end of the movie, where you are not sure you've helped him. Please know that you have. Schizophrenia is so lonesome. If 1 friend or loved one can break through the psychosis, that is gold.
In the end, I chose medication. I do not want to live in the real world with schizophrenic symptoms. It is very difficult to manage psychosis without medication. Medication makes my life easier.
It isn't without its down side. When I was schizophrenic, my creativity soared. I wrote poetry, and I started a novel and honed an idea for a second novel. I miss having my creative mind front and center in my decision making process.
Nathaniel must be creative as well--his costumes, drawings, writing, the bra on the cello. I am sure the list is endless.
I have been on medication for 9 months now, and I am just now starting to feel better. Even if Nathaniel did choose medication, I am not sure he would stick to taking it. I have been stuck in bed--sometimes sleeping until 2 pm. The medication makes you feel terrible for several months before you feel better.
Even if he did take it for 2 weeks, it would not have helped unless he could commit to taking it long term. I am SO thankful that I did get medicaid so I can take my meds. The meds cost $600 per month without insurance. I am not sure he would have had steady access to the meds long term.
Your movie touched me, and Jamie Foxx was amazing! He NAILED IT! I wanted to tell you my story. I also wanted to ease your mind about meds. In order for them to really improve Nathaniel's life, he would have to suffer through months of physical and emotional symptoms before he would start to feel better on them. If he's anything like me, he'd probably miss his creativity being first and foremost in control of his decision making process.
Like everything in the "real world", it's not black and white. It's all varying shades of grey--or differing mixtures of color if you happen to be schizo symptomatic.
Thank You and Thank Jamie Foxx too!
Augusta
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