Steve Lopez, a columnist for the L.A. Times, first catches sight of Nathaniel Ayers one afternoon in downtown Los Angeles. Ayers is “dressed in rags on a busy downtown street corner, playing Beethoven on a battered violin” (ix). Ayers is clearly homeless, with all of his belongings in a shopping cart next to him. Lopez compliments him on his playing. Despite his condition, there is a “rumpled elegance about him” (x). Lopez believes that Ayers could provide material for a column, but he does not have time to talk to him on that day. At the office, he writes “Violin Man” (xi) on a paper and resolves to go back to see Ayers play. 

Three weeks later, Lopez again notices Ayers in Pershing Square playing Tchaikovsky. Lopez approaches Ayers and tells him about the idea to write about him. Ayers reveals he utilizes the Midnight Mission, a rescue operation on Skid Row. Although he showers and eats there, he prefers to sleep outside on the street. Lopez leaves and promises to visit Ayers at the mission. Ayers seems suspicious and clearly does not trust Lopez at the time.

Lopez looks for Ayers again two weeks later but cannot locate him.