Yamin performing

BOSTON CELTICS RELEASE
BOSTON (October 9, 2007) — The Boston Celtics today announced “American Idol” finalist Elliott Yamin, who initially auditioned for the popular TV show in Boston, will perform a special concert immediately following the Boston Celtics vs. Denver Nuggets game on Wednesday, November 7, 2007 at the TD Banknorth Garden. This performance is the first of three post-game concerts presented this season by Verizon Wireless.

Yamin, who finished third in “Idol’s” fifth season and wowed the judges with R&B, soul and smooth jazz tunes, performs after Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen and the Celtics take on Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets. Celtics fans attending the contest are invited to stay and listen to one of music’s hottest acts perform at this exclusive post game show.

Tickets are available now and start at just $10 in the Rite Aid Pharmacy Family Section. To purchase tickets log on to www.celtics.com, call 1-800-4NBA-T.I.X. or visit the Garden Box Office. One ticket grants admission to both exciting Celtics NBA action and the special concert performance.

“We are thrilled to offer our fans Boston Celtics basketball followed by a performance by one of the most popular ‘American Idol’ contestants to ever appear on the show,” Shawn Sullivan said, Sr. Vice President, Ticket Sales, Marketing & Service for the Boston Celtics.

This special concert event supports Yamin’s March 2007 self-titled album, which debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart – the highest-ever debut for an independent artist on the music magazine’s historic chart. His first single, “Wait for You,” jumped 60 spots on Apple’s iTunes in just a few hours after he performed it live on May 16, 2007 on “American Idol’s” sixth season.

Yamin was born in Los Angeles, but spent most of his childhood in Richmond, VA. Although he is 90 percent deaf in his left ear, Yamin finished third in “Idol’s” tightest race. “Idol” guest coach Stevie Wonder told him to definitely pursue a career in music and judge Simon Cowell said Yamin was, “potentially the best male vocalist” to appear on “Idol.” Entertainment Weekly.com ranked Yamin’s performance of “A Song for You,” as the third greatest “Idol” performance of all-time. Diagnosed as a diabetic at age 16, Yamin works as a spokesman for different organizations, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Yamin is also scheduled to perform at 8 p.m., Nov. 24 at The Roxy in Boston.