Celebrity Profile ~ Exclusive Interview

5 Questions/5 Minutes

Elliott Yamin
Season Five American Idol Finalist
The Workplay Theater
Birmingham, AL







1) You just came off of a 65 city tour with American Idol;
what was the first thing you did when you went back
home to Richmond?

“I went back to my old place, my old condo and was
instantly reunited with old buddies…”

2) We hear you were roommates with Taylor Hicks on the tour
and you turned him on to Donny Hathaway…
when and how were you introduced to his music?

“I was in 7th or 8th grade at the time, mmm 8th grade…
I was fifteen years old and a good friend of mine, Mike Smith,
he was a rapper, he wrote rhymes and free styled all of the time…
he turned me on to him…and I have been in love
with his music ever since…”

3) You booked The Little Memphis Blues Orchestra (LiMBO)
featuring the members of The Taylor Hicks Band
to back you this weekend for your Coming Home Concert
at the Virginia State Fair…how did that come about?

“I met the guys when they came out to support Taylor at
the beginning of Idol…when we were taping the show…
we all really got along…then I went with Taylor a couple of
times when they (LiMBO) were playing in the same city
while we were on tour…actually got on stage with them as well…
after being on stage with them I knew I wanted to book them
for my first gig…”

4) You have been in rehearsals all this week with the guys
from LiMBO, how has it been working with them?
How has it been fronting your first band?

“It felt great…It was an honor…these guys are
so talented…they are really keen on music…it was real
easy for them to pick up songs I wanted to perform…they just
learn the stuff…it was a blast rehearsing with them this week
and hanging out with them…I can’t wait to join them on stage!”

5) What are you most looking forward to this Sunday?

“Performing…getting out there and just feeling the energy from the crowd…putting together everything we have worked so hard on this week…and seeing my friends and the familiar faces in the crowd…”

Click on Behind the Scenes to view our Exclusive Pictures
of Elliott Yamin rehearsing with LiMBO