L.A. Vida

East Los Angeles is a difficult and dangerous place to spend your childhood, as Lupe Padilla finds out. As our story unfolds we are thrust into the world of poverty wages, gang violence, narcos, poor housing, INS raids, and a family fiercely devoted to each other. 

Despite the barrio world around her, Lupe is determined to keep her family together. After the death of her mother and looming unemployment, she finds inspiration in an unlikely place that changes her life profoundly. The language and music are uniquely East Los Angeles, a wonderful hybrid of two cultures.


Composer and author David Wendell Nelson has created an eBook version of his exciting new musical L.A. Vida. With expanded dialog, description, and audio content, the musical comes alive with hyperlinks to all the songs. This eBook contains the musical in its entirety. Simply click on the link to hear the song. You will need an internet connection to access this feature. Please take advantage of the glossary for terms in Spanish.