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Orianthi was born in Adelaide, South Australia, and is of Greek and Australian descent. She learned to play the acoustic guitar at six because of her father, started electric when she was eleven and left her school (Mercedes College) due to her peers not being very supportive. She was then enrolled at Cabra Dominican College. At the age of 15, she decided to focus on writing songs and so decided to leave school and start her professional career. She has been playing in different friends' bands since she was 14 in England and in France. Her first support show was for Steve Vai at age 15. Orianthi had the opportunity to meet and jam 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. She signed with Geffen Records in late 2006 and struck a management deal with 19 Entertainment.

Orianthi has played with Prince, made a video clip for Panasonic HD, had a song featured in Bratz: The Movie, played at the Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival, appeared in The New York Times business section promoting Eco-friendly acoustic guitars,and was named in the 12 Greatest Female Electric Guitarists. She also appeared at the 51st annual Grammy Awards as Carrie Underwood's lead guitarist, with Underwood inviting Orianthi to become a member of her band. A guitar solo by Orianthi is featured on the song "Sleepwalker" on Adam Lambert's debut album For Your Entertainment.

Orianthi was Michael Jackson's lead guitarist and was present on all rehearsals for his This Is It concerts before his death. In regards to being handpicked by Jackson, she stated:
“ 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?’ He hired me that night. I wish he was still around. He made me believe in myself more, and I learned so much. Going into it, I thought it would be all about playing guitar solos. But the majority of it was playing chords and funky rhythms. ”

She played and sang at Jackson's memorial, globally televised live on 7 July 2009. She appears in the film Michael Jackson's This Is It, which chronicles the rehearsals for the tour and shows her and Michael on stage. Her song "According to You", from the album Believe, was the Single of the Week on iTunes on 27 October 2009, and reached number eight in Australia. She presented an award at the 2009 American Music Awards, which Jackson won posthumously.

She appears on "We Are the World: 25 for Haiti" – with the original co-written and partly performed by Jackson.She will also feature on a cover of "Stairway to Heaven" on the international re-release of Mary J Blige's Stronger with Each Tear. Orianthi recorded a new song called "Shut Up And Kiss Me." It officially began appearing on the radio April 13, 2010 in the U.S. Orianthi appeared on the American Idol results show 26 May 2010. Orianthi will be touring throughout the United States this summer with former American Idol contestants Allison Iraheta and Adam Lambert. She is also featured on Iraheta's third single "Don't Waste The Pretty."

I read it in wikipedia. blaugh

intersting biggrin