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Welcome to Fabulous Angeles
Did you, too, survive the 1970s?
Join Richard A. Lefkowitz on his personal joyride through the glamour and grit of LA's backstreets, descending into all-night escapades and confrontations with police, fueled by love, drugs, and FM radio songs and personalities. With the help of his best friend, Moxie, Ricky blusters and bluffs his way into exclusive parties and once-in-a-lifetime concerts, crossing paths with a host of celebrities, including the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, the Doobie Brothers, Stevie Wonder, Muddy Waters, Joni Mitchell, and B. B. King.
Weaving LA and music history, pop culture, and a relentless pursuit of personal truth into a vivid tapestry illustrating the volatility of the psychedelic new age, Welcome to Fabulous Angeles takes you on an entertaining journey of raucous revelry. It brings back the fractious tracks of unforgettable times, while its bittersweet symphony makes you laugh, cry, and sing.
Join Richard A. Lefkowitz on his personal joyride through the glamour and grit of LA's backstreets, descending into all-night escapades and confrontations with police, fueled by love, drugs, and FM radio songs and personalities. With the help of his best friend, Moxie, Ricky blusters and bluffs his way into exclusive parties and once-in-a-lifetime concerts, crossing paths with a host of celebrities, including the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, the Doobie Brothers, Stevie Wonder, Muddy Waters, Joni Mitchell, and B. B. King.
Weaving LA and music history, pop culture, and a relentless pursuit of personal truth into a vivid tapestry illustrating the volatility of the psychedelic new age, Welcome to Fabulous Angeles takes you on an entertaining journey of raucous revelry. It brings back the fractious tracks of unforgettable times, while its bittersweet symphony makes you laugh, cry, and sing.
- GenresMemoir
306 pages, Paperback
Published October 21, 2025
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 10, 2025
Richard “Ricky” Lefkowitz’s Welcome to Fabulous Angeles invites you to travel back to Los Angeles in the ‘60s and ‘70s—a time when surfboards were always rattling on car roofs, rock music was blasting from every diner, and it felt like parents and teens were on totally different planets.
Growing up near Fairfax Avenue and mainly in the quieter Beverlywood area, Ricky’s story stands out.
His life takes a turn when he meets Moxie, a bold new kid from Pittsburgh who is seen as trouble by Ricky’s mom. But Ricky sticks with Moxie not just out of loyalty; Moxie represents the freedom he’s been seeking.
The dynamic between Ricky and Moxie is central. Their adventures and misadventures serve as a vehicle for exploring themes of loyalty, rebellion, and the search for identity.
This relationship becomes a quiet but strong thread in the memoir, showing that growing up is about more than just rebellion—it’s also about the meaningful connections that shape who we are.
As Ricky and his crew dive into the buzzing LA music scene, they find themselves in the middle of unforgettable experiences, seeing rock legends up close. Whether it’s slipping into Stevie Wonder’s rehearsals, catching live shows with Muddy Waters and B.B. King, or enjoying Joni Mitchell’s intimate sets, Ricky’s life is bursting with the kinds of moments most teens can only dream about.
These firsthand stories of meeting music icons and attending legendary concerts offer a behind-the-scenes look at the rock scene’s heyday
Music plays a big role in shaping his experiences and relationships. But it’s not all just about music and friends. Ricky’s love with Aimee opens his heart and exposes him to the emotional craziness of young love.
Their closeness grows with the classic mix of curiosity, intensity, and awkward moments that come with being young.
This relationship reinforces the idea that coming of age isn’t just about pushing boundaries; it’s also about those bonds that leave a lasting impression.
As they navigate this wild scene, Ricky and his friends also dabble in marijuana and other drugs, experiencing both the highs and the downsides. Back at home, things get tense; his mom stresses about his rebellious ways while hoping for a safe and orderly life for him. These clashes capture the typical divide between parents shaped by the struggles of war and kids riding the wave of the ’60s and ’70s.
Lefkowitz tells this story in a way that’s super relatable and emotionally charged. He mixes simple, vivid imagery—like “decades dissipated like smoke above a fire pit”—to show how memories can fade yet linger at the same time.
He shares the fun, mistakes, and regrets of youth in a way that feels honest without being preachy. Little details, like the “creak” in his neck while he types, remind us that the past is still part of us.
The end result is a memoir that feels personal and universal. You don’t need to be familiar with every club on the Sunset Strip or every classic guitar riff to find yourself in Ricky’s battles with his mom, his loyalty to friends, his first love, and his search for a place to fit in.
Welcome to Fabulous Los Angeles offers a front-row view of a loud, messy, exhilarating time in American culture—and it reflects on what it really means to grow up and look back.
Ricky’s journey is also shaped by the big events happening around him, like the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, and the rise of counterculture. These shifts help explain why he often feels pulled in different directions and how he clashes with his parents.
This backdrop gives readers a better understanding of what it was really like to grow up during that era. This memoir is totally worth the read for anyone who enjoys heartfelt coming-of-age stories packed with a strong sense of time and place!
Follow Here https://is.gd/Suej2e To Read Norm's Interview With Richard (Ricky) Lefkowitz
Growing up near Fairfax Avenue and mainly in the quieter Beverlywood area, Ricky’s story stands out.
His life takes a turn when he meets Moxie, a bold new kid from Pittsburgh who is seen as trouble by Ricky’s mom. But Ricky sticks with Moxie not just out of loyalty; Moxie represents the freedom he’s been seeking.
The dynamic between Ricky and Moxie is central. Their adventures and misadventures serve as a vehicle for exploring themes of loyalty, rebellion, and the search for identity.
This relationship becomes a quiet but strong thread in the memoir, showing that growing up is about more than just rebellion—it’s also about the meaningful connections that shape who we are.
As Ricky and his crew dive into the buzzing LA music scene, they find themselves in the middle of unforgettable experiences, seeing rock legends up close. Whether it’s slipping into Stevie Wonder’s rehearsals, catching live shows with Muddy Waters and B.B. King, or enjoying Joni Mitchell’s intimate sets, Ricky’s life is bursting with the kinds of moments most teens can only dream about.
These firsthand stories of meeting music icons and attending legendary concerts offer a behind-the-scenes look at the rock scene’s heyday
Music plays a big role in shaping his experiences and relationships. But it’s not all just about music and friends. Ricky’s love with Aimee opens his heart and exposes him to the emotional craziness of young love.
Their closeness grows with the classic mix of curiosity, intensity, and awkward moments that come with being young.
This relationship reinforces the idea that coming of age isn’t just about pushing boundaries; it’s also about those bonds that leave a lasting impression.
As they navigate this wild scene, Ricky and his friends also dabble in marijuana and other drugs, experiencing both the highs and the downsides. Back at home, things get tense; his mom stresses about his rebellious ways while hoping for a safe and orderly life for him. These clashes capture the typical divide between parents shaped by the struggles of war and kids riding the wave of the ’60s and ’70s.
Lefkowitz tells this story in a way that’s super relatable and emotionally charged. He mixes simple, vivid imagery—like “decades dissipated like smoke above a fire pit”—to show how memories can fade yet linger at the same time.
He shares the fun, mistakes, and regrets of youth in a way that feels honest without being preachy. Little details, like the “creak” in his neck while he types, remind us that the past is still part of us.
The end result is a memoir that feels personal and universal. You don’t need to be familiar with every club on the Sunset Strip or every classic guitar riff to find yourself in Ricky’s battles with his mom, his loyalty to friends, his first love, and his search for a place to fit in.
Welcome to Fabulous Los Angeles offers a front-row view of a loud, messy, exhilarating time in American culture—and it reflects on what it really means to grow up and look back.
Ricky’s journey is also shaped by the big events happening around him, like the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, and the rise of counterculture. These shifts help explain why he often feels pulled in different directions and how he clashes with his parents.
This backdrop gives readers a better understanding of what it was really like to grow up during that era. This memoir is totally worth the read for anyone who enjoys heartfelt coming-of-age stories packed with a strong sense of time and place!
Follow Here https://is.gd/Suej2e To Read Norm's Interview With Richard (Ricky) Lefkowitz
October 20, 2025
As fan of music and popular culture of the 1970s, I was intrigued by Welcome to Fabulous Angeles by Richard A. Lefkowitz. This book promised an adventure in Los Angeles led by the author who came of age in this time period. Along the way, he runs into various celebrities and musicians and experiences a devil-may-care life while trying to avoid the police and his parents. It sounded like a fun romp so I took up the offer to read this book.
If you're triggered by drug use, this may not be the book for you. The author indulges quite a bit with the drugs of the times, which he gives pet names only known by a few friends. A glossary is included to pair the nickname with the drug of choice. After a while, it does get tiresome that he spends so much time getting high and looking for the next high.
Some of the cameos of celebrities are blink-and-you'll-miss-them while others will have you reeling. Can you imagine hanging out with Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones? You can live vicariously through the author and his main sidekick (or is the author the sidekick?) Moxie. Moxie somehow always knows how to be at the right place at the right time. Just before I read this passage, I was thinking that it felt like there weren't enough celebrity encounters, especially living in La La Land. At times, you may be waiting for the grand entrance of one. I did love all the references to his concert experiences and love of music, which was a treat.
I think that I may have loved this book more if I knew Los Angeles better. I have never been on the West Coast yet I could tell that the author knew it intimately and wanted to showcase all the hot spots at the time. Since I'm an East Coast denizen, it was hard to imagine and relate to.
One minus is the abrupt end to the book. It's rolling along and all of a sudden it seems to be over with things changing. They're minor changes, however, and the author still seems like the slacker he's been throughout the whole book. I would have rather heard about the change from slacker to success instead of not being sure (except for the author biography) in what direction life would take him.
Thank you, Gilded Coast Press | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles, for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! It was a pleasure!
If you're triggered by drug use, this may not be the book for you. The author indulges quite a bit with the drugs of the times, which he gives pet names only known by a few friends. A glossary is included to pair the nickname with the drug of choice. After a while, it does get tiresome that he spends so much time getting high and looking for the next high.
Some of the cameos of celebrities are blink-and-you'll-miss-them while others will have you reeling. Can you imagine hanging out with Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones? You can live vicariously through the author and his main sidekick (or is the author the sidekick?) Moxie. Moxie somehow always knows how to be at the right place at the right time. Just before I read this passage, I was thinking that it felt like there weren't enough celebrity encounters, especially living in La La Land. At times, you may be waiting for the grand entrance of one. I did love all the references to his concert experiences and love of music, which was a treat.
I think that I may have loved this book more if I knew Los Angeles better. I have never been on the West Coast yet I could tell that the author knew it intimately and wanted to showcase all the hot spots at the time. Since I'm an East Coast denizen, it was hard to imagine and relate to.
One minus is the abrupt end to the book. It's rolling along and all of a sudden it seems to be over with things changing. They're minor changes, however, and the author still seems like the slacker he's been throughout the whole book. I would have rather heard about the change from slacker to success instead of not being sure (except for the author biography) in what direction life would take him.
Thank you, Gilded Coast Press | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles, for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! It was a pleasure!
October 12, 2025
Richard Lefkowitz is one of those people who keep all of their concert tickets for future reference. Hotel bills too. Probably a few other things.
He shares this information often in his highly entertaining memoir, Welcome to Fabulous Angeles: The Rock 'n Roll Adventures of a Wayward Westside Teen.
It's the early 1970s, Ricky Lefkowitz is trudging through high school, hanging out with friends, and fairly obsessed with music and drugs. He writes songs and plays guitar, and hopes to join a band — even as a roadie, if need be. He is also quite determined not to follow in his father's footsteps, running an office supply business.
His best friend is a character, Moxie Bigem, who Ricky's mom thinks is a bad influence (and maybe she's right). Ricky keeps thwarting mom's orders to never see Moxie again, and they get into all sorts of adventures -- and concerts. They even have close encounters with various Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, sometimes joined by Ricky's girlfriend, Aimee.
Honestly, I don't think Aimee's last name appears in the book. They get together after comparing their record collections. Aimee winds up going to college at UC-Berkeley, while Ricky stumbles around at a more working-class college.
At no point in this book can you see Ricky growing up to be "an attorney specializing in civil litigation of real property cases," as his back-cover bio reads. That's really the way it should be, as I'm sure that is a much more boring story.
He shares this information often in his highly entertaining memoir, Welcome to Fabulous Angeles: The Rock 'n Roll Adventures of a Wayward Westside Teen.
It's the early 1970s, Ricky Lefkowitz is trudging through high school, hanging out with friends, and fairly obsessed with music and drugs. He writes songs and plays guitar, and hopes to join a band — even as a roadie, if need be. He is also quite determined not to follow in his father's footsteps, running an office supply business.
His best friend is a character, Moxie Bigem, who Ricky's mom thinks is a bad influence (and maybe she's right). Ricky keeps thwarting mom's orders to never see Moxie again, and they get into all sorts of adventures -- and concerts. They even have close encounters with various Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, sometimes joined by Ricky's girlfriend, Aimee.
Honestly, I don't think Aimee's last name appears in the book. They get together after comparing their record collections. Aimee winds up going to college at UC-Berkeley, while Ricky stumbles around at a more working-class college.
At no point in this book can you see Ricky growing up to be "an attorney specializing in civil litigation of real property cases," as his back-cover bio reads. That's really the way it should be, as I'm sure that is a much more boring story.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews