[4] He started out playing alto saxophone; however, according to Val Wilmer, he "became frustrated when he could not achieve the mobility and sound that had come so easily to his brother.
[1] When Albert returned to the United States, he formed a new band, which included both his brother and Charles Tyler, along with bassist Lewis Worrell and drummer Sunny Murray.
[9] Val Wilmer stated that, at the funeral service, "Donald Ayler stood on a balcony beside his saxophonist brother and played a spine-chilling lament.
By the late 1960s, Donald began to exhibit signs of mental instability,[3][4] and had what he called a "nervous breakdown," for which Albert apparently blamed himself.
[3][4] (The Holy Ghost compilation includes recordings of two previously-unreleased Donald Ayler compositions, "Prophet John" and "Judge Ye Not", from this concert, which also featured saxophonist Sam Rivers.)
[4] By the late 1970s, with the help and encouragement of saxophonists Mustafa Abdul Rahim and Al Rollins (who ran a barbershop), Ayler began to play again.
[6][11] However, "he was unable to sustain a career",[3] and spent much of his remaining life in assisted living or nursing home facilities.