Orianthi
Sign in to saveOrianthi Penny Panagaris (born 22 January 1985), known mononymously as Orianthi, is an Australian guitarist, singer and songwriter. Her 2009 debut single "According to You" peaked at No. 3 in Japan, No. 8 in Australia and No. 17 in the US; her second album, Believe, received a worldwide release in late 2009. The same year, she was named one of the "12 Greatest Female Electric Guitarists" by Elle magazine. She also won the "2010 Breakthrough Guitarist of the Year" award hosted by Guitar International magazine.
Person
- Born
- 1985-01-22
via Open Library + Wikidata
Film & TV
Acting · Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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…
Known for
- A Grammy Celebration of Latin Music — Self - Performer2025
- Orianthi - Live From Hollywood — Guitar2022
- The Queen Family Singalong — Self2021
- Find Your Groove — Self2020
- RSO | Soundstage — Self - Guitar/Vocals2017
- Alice Cooper: Raise the Dead (Live from Wacken) — Self - Guitar2014
- Skum Rocks! — Self2013
- Alice Cooper: Halloween Night of Fear — Self2011
- This Is It — Self2009
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! — Self - Musical Guest2003
via TMDB
Listeners · Last.fm
- Listeners
- 216,332
- Total plays
- 3,222,713
Tags
rockpop rockfemale vocalistsguitar virtuosopop
Orianthi Penny Panagaris (born 22 January 1985 in Adelaide, South Australia), better known simply as Orianthi, is a Greek Australian musician, singer-songwriter and guitarist who has released four albums (Violet Journey (2007), Believe (2009), Heaven In This Hell (2013), and O (2020)) and one EP (Fire (2011)) as a solo artist. She is best known for her virtuosic guitar skills, displayed while being Michael Jackson's lead guitarist for his ill-fated "This Is It" concert series, and as the lead gu
Key facts
- Person.name
- Orianthi
- Person.image
- Gitarowy Rekord Świata, 01.05.2025, Wrocław 113.jpg
- Person.caption
- Orianthi performing in 2025
- Person.birth_name
- Orianthi Penny Panagaris
- Person.birth_place
- Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Person.years_active
- 1999–present
- Person.partner
- Richie Sambora (2014–2018)
- Musical artist.embed
- yes
- Musical artist.background
- solo_singer
via Wikipedia infobox
Key dates
- Born
- 22 January 1985
via Wikidata · CC0
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- human
- Gender
- female
- Citizenship
- Australia
- Place of birth
- Adelaide
- Occupation
- musician
- Educated at
- Mercedes College
- Languages spoken
- English language
- Genre
- rock music
- Instrument
- guitar
- Record label
- Geffen Records
Article
15 sectionsContents
- Life and career
- Early life
- Breakthrough
- Solo career
- Collaborations
- Touring guitarist
- Philanthropy
- Discography
- Filmography
- Awards and nominations
- Equipment
- Guitars
- Amplifiers
- References
- External links
Orianthi Penny Panagaris (born 22 January 1985), known mononymously as Orianthi, is an Australian guitarist, singer and songwriter. Her 2009 debut single "According to You" peaked at No. 3 in Japan, No. 8 in Australia and No. 17 in the US; her second album, Believe, received a worldwide release in late 2009. The same year, she was named one of the "12 Greatest Female Electric Guitarists" by Elle magazine. She also won the "2010 Breakthrough Guitarist of the Year" award hosted by Guitar International magazine.
==Life and career== ===Early life=== Orianthi Penny Panagaris was born in Adelaide, Australia, to a Greek father. She began playing piano at the age of three, and at the encouragement of her father, moved to acoustic guitar at the age of six. When she was eleven, she took up electric guitar and left her school, Mercedes College, enrolling at Cabra Dominican College. She also attended St Peter's Collegiate Girls' School for a short period. At the age of 15, she turned her focus to writing songs and so began her professional career. She has been playing in bands since the age of 14 and performed in her first stage show for Steve Vai at the age of 15. Orianthi met and jammed with Carlos Santana when she was 18. He invited Orianthi to get up and jam with him at soundcheck then later asked if she would join him on stage that night to jam at his Adelaide concert, Memorial Drive on 30 March 2003.
Gallery (3)
Connections
Categories
1985 births19 Recordings artists21st-century Australian guitarists21st-century Australian women guitaristsAlice Cooper (band) membersAustralian expatriates in the United StatesAustralian heavy metal guitaristsAustralian heavy metal singersAustralian lead guitaristsAustralian people of Greek descentAustralian rock guitaristsAustralian rock singers