> At a Glance
> – Brad Caleb Kane, the singing voice of Aladdin, nearly turned down the 1992 Disney role to stay in film school
> – He planned to tour with his grunge band, not record a movie soundtrack
> – Why it matters: His unexpected journey reveals how close the classic film came to a different vocal identity
Brad Caleb Kane-now 52-year-old showrunner of It: Welcome to Derry-was a NYU film student when Disney asked him to sing for Aladdin. The call came after he’d left child acting behind, long-haired and crowd-surfing between classes.
A Reluctant Genie
Kane’s first brush with the project felt minor: senior year he met composer Alan Menken and lyricist Howard Ashman, sang the then-unreleased ballad “Proud of Your Boy,” and forgot about it.
Eight months later, his mother tracked him down in Chicago:
- Message: Alan Menken wants you back to sing with Lea Salonga
- Reply: “Mom, I don’t wanna do that.”
He relented once, sang “A Whole New World” with Salonga, then returned to gigs. A second call sealed the deal: “You’re gonna be doing this thing. They want you to do the singing voice of Aladdin.”
Studio Sessions & Legacy
Kane recorded three sessions, sharing vocal duties with Scott Weinger’s speaking voice. His grunge mindset shifted only years later when the film’s cultural impact grew.
Recording highlights:
- Worked alongside the ailing Howard Ashman in early sessions
- Witnessed Ashman’s commitment despite health struggles
- Realized the lyricist’s legacy while obsessing over Little Shop of Horrors
| Session | Songs Recorded | Memories |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | “One Jump Ahead” | Met Ashman, felt intimidated |
| 2 | “A Whole New World” | Duet with Lea Salonga |
| 3 | Reprises & pickups | Wrapped in two days |
Key Takeaways
- The 1992 “Disney renaissance” wasn’t obvious to participants at the time
- Kane’s film-school focus nearly cost him the role
- His children now cherish the legacy he once downplayed
Today, Kane calls the experience “a nice glow,” one more chapter before writing and producing shows like Fringe, Black Sails, and the upcoming Crystal Lake prequel.
