News

Orianthi Visits The GRAMMY Museum

Facebook Twitter Email
Singer/songwriter/guitarist details new album, Heaven In This Hell
Tim McPhate
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm

Singer/songwriter and guitarist Orianthi recently participated in an installment of the GRAMMY Museum's Great Guitars series. Before an intimate audience at the Museum's Clive Davis Theater, Orianthi discussed touring as a member of Alice Cooper's band, meeting Carlos Santana as a teenager and collaborating with producer Dave Stewart on her new album, Heaven In This Hell. Orianthi also performed a brief set, including "Sex E Bizarre" and "How Do You Sleep?" the latter of which also featured Stewart.

"I listened to a lot of blues [and rock] growing up," said Orianthi. "That's the kind of music I want to be playing for years to come."

Born in Adelaide, Australia, Orianthi became enchanted with guitar at age 6. Listening to artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Santana and Eric Clapton inspired her to take lessons and through her teen years she soaked up the sounds of hard rock artists such as Def Leppard, Van Halen and Whitesnake. At age 18, Orianthi scored the opportunity to jam with Santana backstage prior to one of his concerts. The GRAMMY-winning guitarist was so impressed by Orianthi that he invited her to join him onstage as a special guest.

In 2007 Orianthi secured a deal with Geffen and subsequently released her debut set, Violet Journey, an album showcasing not only her fiery fretwork but her vocal talents. Orianthi scored a career breakthrough in playing guitar during GRAMMY winner Carrie Underwood's performance at the 51st Annual GRAMMY Awards in 2009. Later that year, she landed a gig as the guitarist for Michael Jackson, who was in the process of assembling a band for a residency at London's O2 arena before his unexpected death in June 2009. Orianthi sang at Jackson's memorial service, and rehearsal footage of the guitarist backing the King of Pop was featured in the film Michael Jackson's This Is It. Orianthi's sophomore album, 2009's Believe, peaked at No. 19 on Billboard's Rock Albums chart, featuring the Top 20 single "According To You" and "Highly Strung," an instrumental duet with GRAMMY winner Steve Vai. In 2011 Orianthi signed on as a touring guitarist for legendary shock-rock artist Alice Cooper.

Released in February via Robo Records, Heaven In This Hell features 11 tracks, including eight songs co-written by producer Stewart. From the soulful ballad "How Do You Sleep?" to the raucous title track and the R&B-infused "How Does That Feel?" the album showcases Orianthi's blues guitar influences and overall growth as a musician.  

Upcoming GRAMMY Museum events include Reel To Reel: Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me (June 4) and Spotlight: Josh Ritter (June 13).

GRAMMYs

Perfume Genius

Photo: Mariano Regidor/Redferns/Getty Images

News

GRAMMY Museum Announces Celebrating Music With Pride Panel With Perfume Genius, Shamir, Shawnee & More

Facebook Twitter Email
The July 21 event benefitting the GRAMMY Museum and the Ally Coalition will also feature Lynn Gunn of PVRIS, Zebra Katz and Donna Missal
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Jul 14, 2020 - 11:34 am

Last month marked the 50th anniversary of the first Pride march on June 28, 1970 in New York City on the first anniversary of the Stonewall riots. Now, the celebration continues, as the GRAMMY Museum has announced Celebrating Music With Pride, a special panel discussion between an esteemed panel of artists including with artists Perfume Genius, Lynn Gunn (PVRIS), Zebra Katz, Donna Missal, Shamir, and Shawnee.

The special discussion will commemorate the occasion and create a safe space for artists who identify as LGBTQ+ to reflect on what Pride means to them and how, specifically, this past Pride month resonated. The GRAMMY Museum will host the pre-taped panel, moderated by music journalist Eve Barlow, and premiere it live via Facebook on July 21.

Read More: Perfume Genius' Outer Space Magic

During the Facebook Live release of the panel, viewers can click the donate button to make a contributions. All donations will benefit the GRAMMY Museum and The Ally Coalition.

The Ally Coalitiuon was founded in 2013 by members of the band FUN., Jack Antonoff, Andrew Dost and Nate Ruess as well as fashion designer Rachel Antonoff to provide critical support to grassroots nonprofit organizations committed to bettering the lives of LGBTQ youth. To learn more about the Ally Coalition, visit the organization's website. 

Donna Missal Covers "Iris": GRAMMY ReImagined

Celebrating Music With Pride will be live on the GRAMMY Museum Facebook page at 2 pm PT on Tuesday, July 21. Click below for a full listing of the GRAMMY Museum's online content throughout the month of July.

GRAMMY Museum July Content Lineup: Blues Royalty Zakiya Hooker, Country Star Brett Eldredge & Much More

GRAMMYs

Little Big Town 

Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images

News

Little Big Town, Ledisi & More Partner With GRAMMY Museum & Michelle Obama's Reach Higher To Mentor College Students

Facebook Twitter Email
Francisca Valenzuela, Sasha Sloan, Tikyra "TK" Jackson, and others will mentor GRAMMY U students through a new partnership that seeks to get college students closer to their professional goals
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Jul 9, 2020 - 1:12 pm

The GRAMMY Museum is partnering with former First Lady Michelle Obama's Reach Higher Initiative and the Recording Academy's university chapter, GRAMMY U, for Mentorship Mondays, a program that will provide tools, resources and insight from professionals already in the field to help college students and recent grads looking to get their foot in the music industry. The program will be a series of digital conferences launching July 20 and ending on August 31.

Students will have the opportunity to hear from artists including Sam Fischer, Tikyra "TK" Jackson, Ledisi, Little Big Town, Melanie Pfirrman, Sasha Sloan, and Francisca Valenzuela. Recording Academy members will also be mentors in the program.

"The GRAMMY Museum's new Mentorship Monday program exemplifies the Museum's mission to uphold music's value in our lives through education and collaboration between professionals and aspiring creatives," said GRAMMY Museum President Michael Sticka in a statement. "I'd like to thank Reach Higher and GRAMMY U for helping make this program a reality."

Reach Higher Executive Director Eric Waldo said they are excited to partner with the museum and GRAMMY U for the music partnership. 

"Music helps us hear each other more fully and to share ourselves with one another authentically," Waldo said. "Now more than ever is a wonderful time for professionals and artists to harness the unifying and uplifting power of music to support students as they explore and pursue educational and career opportunities in all facets of the recording industry."

Currently the mentorship sessions are invite-only. Reach Higher will release some selected sessions in the future during their Beating the Odds Summit. In addition, selected public sessions will happen through Instagram Live. 

Yvonne Orji On Her First-Ever HBO Comedy Special, Faith & Celebrating Black Joy

GRAMMYs

John Lewis

Photo: Derek Smith

News

'John Lewis: Good Trouble' Documentary Tickets Available To Benefit The GRAMMY Museum

Facebook Twitter Email
Using interviews and rare archival footage, the film chronicles long-time Congressman's 60-plus years of social activism and legislative action
GRAMMY Museum
Jul 2, 2020 - 6:35 pm

On July 3, John Lewis: Good Trouble arrives in theatres and on demand, telling the remarkable story of the life and work of Congressman and activist John Lewis, and a portion of ticket proceeds will benefit the GRAMMY Museum. 

With a powerful, informative and inspiring mix of interviews and rare archival footage, the documentary chronicles long-time Congressman John Lewis’ 60-plus years of social activism and legislative action on civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health-care reform and immigration. 

Using present-day interviews with Lewis, now 80 years old, director Dawn Porter explores his childhood experiences, his inspiring family and his fateful meeting with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1957. In addition to her interviews with Lewis and his family, Porter’s primarily cinéma verité film also includes interviews with political leaders, Congressional colleagues, and other people who figure prominently in his life.

Immediately following the feature, there will be a pre-recorded discussion between Representative Lewis and Oprah Winfrey, filmed last month and being made available exclusively for virtual cinema and in-theater engagements of the film. This is a wide-ranging, informal, 16-minute conversation that’s a perfect follow-up to the documentary.

Additionally, on July 9, viewers can join the GRAMMY Museum for a panel discussion presented by the Freedom Rides Museum of Montgomery, Alabama, featuring Freedom Riders Dr. Bernard Lafayette and Dr. Rip Patton in conversation with director Dawn Porter. This special presentation is in partnership with the Capri Theatre and will take place July 9 at 7:30pm EST / 4:30pm PST.

GRAMMY Museum July Content Lineup: Blues Royalty Zakiya Hooker, Country Star Brett Eldredge & Much More

GRAMMYs

Zakiya Hooker

Zakiya Hooker performs during Celebrating John Lee Hooker: King Of The Boogie at The GRAMMY Museum on March 29, 2018
Photo: Timothy Norris/Getty Images

News

GRAMMY Museum July Content Lineup: Blues Royalty Zakiya Hooker, Country Star Brett Eldredge & Much More

Facebook Twitter Email
The upcoming month's digital public programs also include Butch Walker, Christie Lenée, MAX, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Lettuce, The Jayhawks and more, plus The Road to the GRAMMY Awards digital exhibit
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Jun 30, 2020 - 11:48 am

As the summer heats up and music fans remain stuck in doors, the GRAMMY Museum has announced its next round of new and never-before-released digital content for the month of July. The Museum's Public Programs digital series features new intimate sit-down interviews with artists and musicians recorded via Zoom, while the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles remains closed until further notice in light of COVID-19.

Highlights include acclaimed songwriter/producer Butch Walker, virtuoso guitarist Christie Lenée, pop sensation MAX, GRAMMY-nominated funk fusion band Lettuce, Zakiya Hooker at Celebrating John Lee Hooker: King Of The Boogie, plus country star Brett Eldredge appearing with his recent producers and co-writers Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk the day after the release of his fifth album, Sunday Best. Check out the full July lineup below:

DIGITAL PUBLIC PROGRAMS
7/1 – Matoma
7/6 – MAX
7/8 – Christie Lenée
7/9 – The Immediate Family – LIVE (via Zoom)        
7/11 – Brett Eldredge with Producers Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk
7/13 – Ray Wylie Hubbard
7/15 – The Jayhawks
7/18 – Jake Troth
7/20 – Alec Benjamin
7/22 – Butch Walker
7/25 – Zakiya Hooker
7/27 – Lettuce
7/29 – To Be Announced

In addition to new content posting on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week in July, GRAMMY In The Schools Mini-Lessons will be posted on Thursdays. 

On Friday, July 10, the Museum will also unveil its latest digital exhibit, The Road to the GRAMMY Awards. 

Since the Museum opened 12 years ago, it has offered more than 900 Public Programs. The Museum is also releasing exhibit slideshows featuring items from past exhibitions. The Museum continues to release digital educational content and lesson plans as part of the GRAMMY In The Schools Knowledge Bank, continuing its mission of paying tribute to our musical heritage and bringing our community together through music. 

For more information about the GRAMMY Museum, how to become a member and to access its catalog of digital content, visit their Digital Museum. 

GRAMMY Museum June Lineup: Adam Lambert, Haim, Lucinda Williams, New Exhibits & More In Never-Before-Released Digital Content