Elliott Yamin first gained national attention due to his third-place finish on AMERICAN IDOL in the spring of 2006. Born in Los Angeles on July 28, 1978, Yamin grew up in Richmond, Virginia, singing part-time with a local jazz band until he auditioned for AMERICAN IDOL in the summer of 2005. A fan favorite because of both his endearing shyness and neo-soul vocal stylings, as well as his triumphant backstory (Yamin is both deaf in one ear and diabetic), Yamin was defeated in the finals by Katahrine McPhee and eventual winner Taylor Hicks. His debut album, ELLIOTT YAMIN, was released in 2007.
