Orianthi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Orianthi
Orianthi performing in 2017
Born	Orianthi Penny Panagaris (1985-01-22) 22 January 1985 (age 40) Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Occupation	Musician singer songwriter
Years active	1999–present
Musical career
Genres	Rock pop rock hard rock alternative rock pop punk blues rock alternative metal
Instruments	Guitar vocals
Labels	Frontiers Robo Geffen Spinefarm 19

Orianthi Penny Panagaris (born 22 January 1985), known as Orianthi, is an amazing Australian guitarist, singer, and songwriter. She is famous for her incredible guitar skills.

In 2009, she rehearsed with the legendary Michael Jackson for his "This Is It" concerts. She has also toured with the rock icon Alice Cooper. Her song "According to You" was a big hit in 2009. It reached number 3 in Japan and number 8 in Australia. Her album Believe was released worldwide that same year. Elle magazine recognized her as one of the "12 Greatest Female Electric Guitarists." She also won the "Breakthrough Guitarist of the Year" award in 2010.

Life and Career

Early Musical Journey

Orianthi Penny Panagaris was born in Adelaide, Australia. Her father, who is Greek, encouraged her love for music. She started playing piano when she was just three years old. At six, she switched to the acoustic guitar.

By age eleven, Orianthi was playing electric guitar. She left her school to focus more on music. When she was 15, she began writing her own songs. This marked the start of her professional music career. She had been playing in bands since she was 14. At 15, she even performed on stage for the famous guitarist Steve Vai.

Orianthi met and played music with Carlos Santana when she was 18. He was so impressed that he invited her to play with him on stage. This happened at his concert in Adelaide in 2003.

First Album and Big Moves

In 2005, Orianthi released her first album, Violet Journey. She wrote all the songs herself. She also played guitar, sang, and even played drums on most of the tracks. She produced and mixed the album in her home studio.

Carlos Santana helped Orianthi get noticed by Paul Reed Smith. This led to her getting an endorsement deal for PRS guitars. Later, Orianthi moved to Los Angeles. She signed with Geffen Records in 2006. She also got a management deal with 19 Entertainment.

Orianthi has appeared in a commercial for Panasonic. Her song "Now or Never" was featured in Bratz: The Movie. She also performed at the Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival. She even opened for Steve Vai during his US tour.

Becoming a Star

In February 2009, Orianthi played lead guitar for Carrie Underwood at the 51st Grammy Awards. Carrie Underwood then asked Orianthi to join her band. After this performance, Michael Jackson's team contacted Orianthi. They wanted her to audition for his "This Is It" concerts.

Orianthi became Michael Jackson's lead guitarist. She was part of all the rehearsals for his concerts. She was chosen by Michael Jackson himself. She shared how he picked her:

I don't know exactly why he picked me, but he watched my YouTube videos and loved them. He had his choice of guitar players, but I came in and played the 'Beat It' solo for him. Afterward he was so happy he got up and grabbed my arm and started walking up and down the stage area with me. He said, 'Can you play once for me?' and hired me that night. I wish he was still around. He made me believe in myself more, and I learned so much.

Orianthi played and sang at Michael Jackson's memorial service. This event was watched by people all over the world in July 2009. She also appears in the film Michael Jackson's This Is It. This movie shows the rehearsals for the tour. It features Orianthi and Jackson on stage together.

She presented an award at the 2009 American Music Awards. Michael Jackson won this award after his passing. Orianthi also played guitar on "We Are the World 25 for Haiti." This song was a remake of a famous charity song. She also played on the song "Monster" from Michael Jackson's 2010 album Michael. This song was later removed from digital and physical versions of the album.

Solo Music Career

Orianthi began working on her album Believe in 2007. It was released in October 2009. The album included her hit song "According to You." This song was very popular worldwide. It reached number 2 on US radio and became platinum in the US and Australia.

Her instrumental song "Highly Strung" with Steve Vai became a popular video online. Her song "Suffocated" was even featured in the video game Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock.

Orianthi appeared on many TV shows. She toured a lot in 2010. She performed her own shows in the US, Japan, Australia, and Malaysia. She also opened for artists like John Mayer and Adam Lambert. Orianthi played at music festivals and charity events. One notable event was the Stand Up to Cancer telethon.

In 2011, she released a five-song EP called Fire. Five songs from this EP later appeared on her third album, Heaven in This Hell, released in 2013.

In 2020, Orianthi signed with Frontiers Records. Her album O was released in November 2020. This was her first studio album in seven years. She released singles like "Sinners Hymn" and "Impulsive" from this album.

In 2022, Orianthi announced a live DVD and album. She also shared the title of her fifth album, Rock Candy. Her live album Live from Hollywood was released in July 2022. Rock Candy followed in October. In 2024, she released the song First Time Blues with Joe Bonamassa.

Working with Other Artists

Orianthi has worked with many different artists. She played on Allison Iraheta's song "Don't Waste the Pretty." She also played on Fefe Dobson's song "Can't Breathe." She has said that the people she works with often become her good friends.

She recorded for the song "Sadda Haq" for a 2011 Bollywood film soundtrack. This song became very popular in India. People in India were excited to hear her play, knowing she was Michael Jackson's lead guitarist.

Orianthi joined the supergroup Hollywood Vampires. She played on their song "Whole Lotta Love" from their 2015 album.

In 2016, Orianthi performed with Richie Sambora at the NRL Grand Final. They later formed a duo called RSO. They released an EP called Rise in 2017. They also released another EP, Making History, and their album Radio Free America in 2018.

Orianthi also appears on the song Limelight from Don Felder's 2019 album.

Touring Guitarist

Orianthi performing with Alice Cooper in 2012

In 2011, Orianthi became the new guitarist for Alice Cooper. She was the first female member of his band. Orianthi toured the world twice with Alice Cooper. She left the band in 2014.

Orianthi has also played guitar for other stars. These include Michael Bolton, Dave Stewart, and James Durbin. She appeared on season 12 in 2013. She played guitar for all the contestants' performances. Later that year, she performed with Chris Brown at the Billboard Music Awards. She also honored Carlos Santana at the Kennedy Center Honors Gala.

From 2013 to 2015, she toured with Dave Stewart. She also started a project called BeMyBand. In 2014, she joined Richie Sambora for his solo tours. In 2016, they toured together as RSO.

In late 2024, it was announced that Orianthi would rejoin Alice Cooper for a tour in early 2025. She will fill in for Nita Strauss during this time.

Giving Back

Orianthi cares about helping others. In 2010, she met students from Little Kids Rock. This group helps kids learn music. The students opened for her at a music trade show. They gave her an autographed acoustic guitar. Orianthi then joined Little Kids Rock's Honorary Board.

Music Albums

Solo career

• Believe (2009)
• Heaven in This Hell (2013)
• O (2020)
• Rock Candy (2022)

RSO

• Radio Free America (2018)

Movies and TV Shows

Awards and Recognitions

Musical Gear

Guitars She Uses

Orianthi uses many different guitars to create her unique sound. Here are some of her favorites:

• PRS Custom 22
• PRS Custom 24
• PRS SE Custom 24
• PRS SE Singlecut
• Jackson KV2 & KV5
• Ibanez RG Series
• Gibson Les Paul (early in her career)
• Gibson SG (early in her career)
• Garrison & Taylor Acoustics
• Duesenberg Starplayer TV (a gift from Dave Stewart)
• PRS SE Orianthi (her own special model)

She also has a unique PRS Custom 24 guitar. It is nicknamed "MJ" and was made for the This Is It concerts. This special guitar is decorated with shiny Swarovski crystals.

Amplifiers She Uses

Amplifiers help make the guitar sound loud and clear. Orianthi uses these brands:

• Orange Amplification
• ENGL (for "This Is It" concerts)
• EVH 5150III
• Marshall
• Mesa Boogie

See also

In Spanish: Orianthi Panagaris para niños