Background
Mattson was born in Duluth, Minnesota.
Mattson was born in Duluth, Minnesota.
He was a Top 10 finalist on the third season of His rendition of Marc Cohn"s 1991 hit, "Walking in Memphis" during his initial audition impressed many, picking up on his maturity and vocal talent. He has been playing piano since he was five years old and has been performing, including his own compositions, since the age of fourteen. When Eli was only 16, he was awarded a prestigious grant from the Peninsula Arts Association in Wisconsin to help further his music career.
After touring with a country band, he lived in Chicago for three years before his national debut on He has been playing at local venues for the past several years and has garnered a large and varied fanbase.
He calls Door County, Wisconsin home. Eli"s influences include Elton John, Billy Joel, Bruce Hornsby, Jimmy Newquist, Dave Matthews Band, just to name a few.
As of 2014 Eli Mattson is no longer performing due to medical issues. Eli"s younger sister Marybeth Mattson continues to perform throughout Door County, Wisconsin and the midwest with Jeanne Kuhns and Patrick Palmer in their band Small Forest.
Performances/Results
Post Talent
On October 17, 2008, Mattson joined the Top 10 finalists, as well as past winners from to perform at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Grand Garden Arena.
On October 24, 2008, Mattson had a Meet and Greet in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin at the Ladder House. On October 27, 28 and 29, 2008, Eli played three sold out benefit concerts in his home county of Door County, Wisconsin. On November 22, 2008, Eli was the Grand Marshal of the Time Warner Green Bay Holiday Parade.
Then he performed a concert at the Meyer Theatre in Green Bay that same day.
In January 2009 Eli went to Los Angeles to start recording for the Epic division of Sony Music. In April 2009, Eli made guest appearances on Terry Fator"s show in Las Vegas.
Fator reports that he actually voted for Eli ten times on, the maximum per voting method.