Orianthi

Initially known as a virtuosic instrumentalist, Orianthi played guitar for vocalists like Carrie Underwood and Michael Jackson before launching her solo career with the global hit single "According to You" in 2009. She was born as "Orianthi Penny Panagaris" on January 22, 1985, in Adelaide, Australia. A guitarist since the age of 6, she had already performed with acts like Steve Vai and Carlos Santana by the time she turned 18. Orianthi's self-released debut album, Violet Journey, was released in 2005, and she signed with Geffen Records the following year. After performing with Carrie Underwood at the Grammy Awards in early 2009, she was handpicked by Michael Jackson to join the singer's band. Jackson died later that year, but Orianthi nonetheless appeared in Michael Jackson's This Is It, which was released in October 2009 and became the highest-grossing concert film in history. She released Believe, her debut album for Geffen, that same month. The album peaked at Number 4 in Japan, where it received a gold certification, and Number 77 in America. Meanwhile, the single "According to You" became a Top 10 hit in multiple countries, peaking at Number 8 in Australia, Number 3 in Japan, and Number 6 on the US Adult Pop Airplay chart. Orianthi joined Alice Cooper's band in the wake of Believe's release and continued released her own albums, issuing Heaven in This Hell in 2014, O in 2020, and Rock Candy in 2022.

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