Ali Olmo
- Music Department
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Originally from Havana, Cuba, Ali fell had a passion with the guitar at age fourteen and taught herself to play that musical instrument. While residing in Jacksonville, Florida, she was chosen to participate in the international stage musical "Up With People" and graduated from their traveling high school program. During her two years of touring the world, she started writing her own songs, her graduation "speech" being one of the first. She subsequently began her solo music career while attending USF in Tampa, doing college concerts and performing at Walt Disney World before making her way to Los Angeles. In 2001, Ali received a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Original Song on NBC's soap opera, Passions. She co-wrote the theme to Disney's Lilo & Stitch: The Series (2003) and "Aloha, E Komo Mai," the end title song for Stitch! The Movie (2003) which is also featured at a Tokyo Disneyland attraction. Among her other music credits are The Road to El Dorado (2000), Thunderheart (1992), Out for Justice (1991), and Friends & Lovers (1999). Ali won first place in the Latin category of Billboard's 7th Annual Song Competition for her bilingual song "I'll Get over You." She is also the featured vocalist and guitarist on "Two Brothers" with the Philadelphia Orchestra at Disney's American Adventure in Epcot and "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" at Disneyland. An accomplished studio singer, she has sung on numerous Latin albums by artists like Chayanne and Roberto Carlos, as well as on many radio and television commercials, including Coca-Cola Classic, Toyota, and McDonald's. Her unique vocal style and ability to write in both English and Spanish have led to writing Spanish lyrics for songs by Diane Warren, Amanda McBroom ("The Rose") and Tom Snow. She also adapted the Radio City Christmas Spectacular for audiences in Mexico City. One of her most exciting musical experiences was getting to perform a world premiere of her Christmas song, "A Ver, A Ver Al Niño Jesus" (Los Tres Reyes Magos) with the Inland Empire Philharmonic, under the direction of Dr. Michael Isaacson. It has subsequently been performed by various church choirs throughout the Los Angeles area.