Elliott Yamin

Like many of the contestants on American Idol, Elliott Yamin had a lot to overcome to get there, including health problems and a rescheduling of auditions due to Hurricane Katrina. Yet, he surprised many, becoming an early favorite and making it to third place on the fifth season of Fox's popular American Idol.

He was born Efraym Elliott Yamin on July 20, 1978, in Los Angeles, California, to a father of Iraqi heritage, Shaul Yamin, and a Jewish American mother, Claudette Goldberg, a former professional singer. Yamin was born with severe allergies. He never had any formal training as a singer, and began singing on his own around the age of five. When he was eleven, the family moved to Richmond, Virginia, and his parents divorced three years later. He had also become 90% deaf in one ear after several ear infections when he was younger and ear-drum replacement surgery when he was thirteen. To compound his medical problems, when he was seventeen he was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes. The severity of his disease requires him to wear an insulin pump at all times.

Yamin quit high school in his sophomore year, preferring to work at a Foot Locker store. But he later went on to earn his GED, with the help from his boss at the store. He later joined a jazz band and worked as a deejay for a local radio station in the overnight time slot, using the radio name of E-Dub. He was working behind the counter at a pharmacy when he took a chance and auditioned for American Idol.

After Hurricane Katrina cancelled Yamin's plans to audition for American Idol in Memphis, Tennessee, he drove eleven and a half hours to audition in Boston, Massachusetts. He sang “A Song for You,” originally by Leon Russell, and later re-made by Donny Hathaway and The Carpenters, at his audition. Later in the Hollywood round he was called the best of his group. He easily made it to the semi-final round, of the top twenty-four singers.

In the semi-finals of American Idol, Yamin sang Stevie Wonder and Bryan Adams tunes, and made it to the final twelve of the competition. Judge Simon Cowell told him he was most likely the best male vocalist ever on the show. All this for a guy that had never had voice lessons and was nearly completely deaf in one ear. Through the theme weeks of the finals, Yamin sang more Stevie Wonder, Garth Brooks, and Queen, and became a favorite of many. During the week of the final four, Yamin and fellow contestant Taylor Hicks were the top two vote-getters. The following week, after singing “Open Arms” by Journey, “What You Won't Do For Love” by Bobby Caldwell, and “I Believe to My Soul” by Donny Hathaway, Yamin was eliminated with a percentage of 33.06%. His competitors, Katharine McPhee and Hicks, received 33.26% and 33.68% respectively.

Life hasn't slowed down yet for Yamin, despite not winning the contest. He threw the opening pitch at a Richmond Braves baseball game, and May 12, 2006, was declared Elliot Yamin Day in Richmond, Virginia. Virginia Congressman Eric Cantor honored him on the floor of the House of Representatives, and he also sang the national anthem at the NBA Finals. After appearing with the other American Idol finalists on a summer tour, Yamin performed in a few solo performances and recorded This Christmas on AOL Music. During American Idol, he mentioned being embarrassed by his teeth, in bad condition because of his diabetes. Many dentists offered him free treatment, and he eventually had them fixed with veneers on ABC’s Extreme Makeover. After months of waiting, he announced a record deal with Sony Records.

YUDDY