The first kick-off of any Miami Sunset Senior High football game won't happen until the teenage fans hear that voice; the singing voice of Dani Mendez belting out our National Anthem. At only 17, the once Miss Teen Miami Pageant contestant is taking that voice accompanied by charisma, beauty and dance moves right through the doors of the recording industry. And in no time at all, the recording industry is quickly coming to her.Raised by Cuban émigré parents, Dani's mother, Yasmine, (a piano player) and father, Julio, (a trumpet player) used music to make building a life in America less of a morale challenge and more a musical journey during the height of Castro's reign and throughout their difficult relocation to South Florida. At first it was just at holiday parties and family affairs that Dani would be asked to sing, but it did not take long for her raw talent and star qualities to become obvious to those beyond her immediate family.A friend of Dani's aunt, a financial planner for Northern Trust, at first somewhat reluctantly, called upon one of his investment clients, songwriter/producer/artist Billy Mann (Marc Anthony, Robyn, Celine Dion, Jessica Simpson, Vitamin C) to see if he would be interested in hearing young Dani sing. Billy asked that Dani record a demo to a karaoke machine and send a photo of herself with the demo to Eccolux Music Group, his production company with manager, Bob Doyle (Garth Brooks). Not really expecting much of anything, a blown-away Billy booked his flight to Miami within 15 minutes of hearing Dani sing Lauryn Hill's "Ex-Factor" and seeing a photo of her taken by her dad."In her first studio session with me, the engineer, drooling over this beauty, gripped my arm so tightly while Dani was singing and moving in the vocal booth that I had black and blue marks the next day. This girl is what long careers are made of. She is like a Cuban Julia Roberts that can sing like Whitney and dance like Britney," describes Billy Mann.Dani has always been both the most typical and the most unusual girl. She loves going to the mall with her girlfriends, hanging out, dancing, and going to her high school football and baseball games. But what Dani loves most of all is her family. "Most of my closest friends are my cousins, mis primas hermanas, I know they will be there for me no matter what. That's what family is for."Growing up listening, dancing and singing along to the many musical influences played at home gave Dani an extensive appreciation of music, most of which would never even cross the typical teenage mind. Her musical taste stretches from R&B to Broadway to disco to Latin salsa. At home, she would just as soon play the most recent Destiny's Child album as she would a Donna Summer record from the 1970Õs. She may only be a high school senior, but sheÕs a teenager with a classic soul. She loves Frank Sinatra's heartfelt crooning, Barbara Streisand's timeless vocals, and Madonna's ever-changing persona. "She's my girl," says Dani.The elements that her favorite artists share are their enduring qualities; Madonna's ability to constantly evolve as an artist, Whitney Houston's continuing versatility as a powerhouse singer and performer, or even Gloria Estefan's vitality and dedication to her Latin roots. This is exactly how Dani sees her own career."I am totally into my Cuban roots, but that doesn't mean I can forget about being an American. It is this country that has made everything possible for me and my family. As a singer and a performer I will always bring these things with me on stage, wherever I am. This is my American Dream."