Since the age of 9, Alfredo Olivas has written over 1,000 songs and released dozens of singles on independent labels. He signed to Fonovisa Records at the age of 16, releasing El Patroncito (his first solo album) in 2011. In 2014, Olivas moved to Sony's imprint, Sahuaro Music. His most recent album, El Privilegio, was released in January, 2015 . A song from that album, "Mi Porvenir," and was included in Billboard's chart highlights in the Mexican Regional Music category.[2] The album charted in the number two spot on Billboard's Top Latin Albums (January 29, 2015), and also reached a peak position of #2 on Billboard's Top Regional Mexican Albums chart. The song "Mi Porvenir" spent 2 weeks at #30 for Regional Mexican airplay, with a peak of #26. For the week of March 29, 2015, El Privilegio ranked #61 on the iTunes Top 100 Latin Albums chart.
One of his most popular corridos is "Las Vacaciones del Jefe," (The Boss's Vacation) which is included on El Patroncito, as well as on two compilation albums. This song begins with the line, "Yo no he matado a nadie... ultimamente," (I haven't killed anyone... lately). The related video received hundreds of thousands of hits on YouTube. The song reached a peak of #31 on Billboard's Regional Mexican Airplay chart.
Olivas has composed songs for several notable bands. Los Cuates de Sinaloa recorded Olivas' song, "Tocando with the Mafia," which peaked at #13 on Billboard's Top Regional Mexican Albums in 2011.
Olivas' most recent work moves away from the narcocorrido. He says that cartel violence in Mexico and the birth of his first child have motivated him to create more positive music, in a style known as "NorteƱa Romantica."