Donald Ayler

Donald Ayler (October 5, 1942 – October 21, 2007) was a jazz trumpeter and younger brother to saxophonist Albert Ayler. Born in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, he went on to work with his brother in the mid-1960s. In 1967 Donald had what he termed a "nervous breakdown", which affected his brother's life as well. In 1970 his brother's death affected him deeply. After that he did work with a septet in Florence, but remains best known for his connection to Albert. Donald appears in the documentary film My Name Is Albert Ayler where he talks about his and Albert's life, their music and their relationship. He is also featured in archival footage from concerts in Europe in 1966. The new sequences with him were filmed in Cleveland, Ohio in 2001 and 2002. Ayler suffered a sudden heart attack on October 21, 2007, and died at home in Northfield, Ohio.