Tori Amos

About Tori Amos

Born Myra Ellen Amos on August 22, 1963, Tori Amos is an American artist known for her singing, songwriting, and piano mastery. Her voice, a mezzo-soprano, is guided by a classical musical foundation. Even as a young child, Amos was composing instrumental piano works. Her prodigious talent earned her a full scholarship to the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University at just five years old, making her its youngest ever attendee. Her tenure there ended at eleven when her scholarship was revoked due to what Rolling Stone characterized as "musical insubordination." Before finding fame as a solo performer in the early 1990s, Amos fronted the brief 1980s pop band Y Kant Tori Read. Her lyrical explorations delve into themes of sexuality, feminism, politics, and religion. Among her notable charting songs are "Crucify," "Silent All These Years," "God," "Cornflake Girl," "Caught a Lite Sneeze," "Professional Widow," "Spark," "1000 Oceans," "Flavor," and "A Sorta Fairytale," the latter being her most successful single commercially in the United States. Amos has garnered five MTV VMA nominations and eight Grammy Award nominations. Her classical crossover album, *Night of Hunters*, earned her an Echo Klassik award. In 1999, VH1 recognized her contributions by placing her at number 71 on their "100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll" list.