Orianthi

Orianthi Penny Panagaris (born 22 January 1985 in Adelaide, South Australia), known professionally as Orianthi, is a Greek-Australian musician, singer-songwriter, and guitarist. She is widely recognized for her virtuoso guitar skills, gaining international attention as Michael Jackson’s lead guitarist for his planned “This Is It” concerts and later as a member of Alice Cooper’s touring band. As a solo artist, she has released several albums, including “Violet Journey” (2007), “Believe” (2009), “Heaven in This Hell” (2013), and “O” (2020), along with the EP “Fire” (2011). Her most successful single, “According to You,” became a global hit.

Orianthi showed musical talent at an early age, beginning piano at three and switching to guitar at six, encouraged by her father. She later focused on electric guitar and songwriting in her teens, performing internationally and sharing the stage with Steve Vai at just 15. These early experiences helped launch her professional career.

Her debut album, “Violet Journey,” featured her as a multi-instrumentalist and producer, but her breakthrough came with “Believe” and its lead single “According to You,” which charted in several countries, including the United States and Australia. The album was later reissued with additional material. In 2011, she released the EP “Fire,” produced by Dave Stewart, with its tracks later included on her third album, “Heaven in This Hell.” This release marked a stylistic shift toward blues and country influences, highlighting a rawer sound compared to her earlier pop rock work.