Abe Olman, born Abraham Olshewitz on December 20, 1887, in Cincinnati, Ohio, was a prominent American songwriter, music publisher, and music industry executive. He passed away at the age of 96 on January 4, 1984, in Rancho Mirage, California. Olman was known for composing several successful ragtime and popular songs such as "Red Onion Rag" (1912), "Down Among the Sheltering Palms" (1915), "Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!" (1917), and "Down By the O-Hi-O" (1920).

Olman's career began in the early 1900s as a traveling music salesman in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. His first compositions were published in 1907 in Cincinnati and later in Indianapolis. In 1912, he moved to New York City, where his "Red Onion Rag" was published. He also performed in clubs in London and Paris before World War I. After returning to the U.S., he founded the LaSalle Music Publishing Company in Chicago in 1914. His song "Down Among the Sheltering Palms" became a hit after being performed by Al Jolson.

In 1920, Olman joined the Forster music publishing firm in Manhattan and became a member of ASCAP. He later held executive positions, including secretary and general manager of Leo Feist, Inc., and worked for Robbins Music. Olman was a pioneer in promoting songs through motion pictures by playing theme songs under opening credits.

Abe Olman co-founded the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1969 with Johnny Mercer and Howie Richmond. In 1983, the Hall of Fame established the Abe Olman Publisher Award in his honor. He was married to actress Mattie Adele Parker, known as Peggy Parker, in 1922, and they had two daughters.