Born in 1957, Lluís Olària studied music in the main jazz and modern-music centres in Barcelona, under internationally reputed teachers. He studied electric bass, double bass, guitar and piano, as well as harmony, arranging and band music.
In the 1980s he took part in many jazz, Latin-jazz, salsa and funk groups, working with leading musicians in Barcelona.
In the 1990s he focused on creating music for advertising, radio broadcasts and film scores.
He has been combining his professional work with teaching music since 1985, teaching both bass and band music, mainly as a teacher at the Municipal Music School of Badalona and the Conservatoire of Badalona; more recently he has been working with the Department of Musical Education of the Autonomous Government of Catalonia in drawing up the syllabus for the bass.