Tori Amos, born Myra Ellen Amos on August 22, 1963, in Newton, North Carolina, is an American singer-songwriter and pianist known for her piano-driven, emotionally intense songs. A classically trained pianist, she began performing as a teenager and, after a brief stint with the pop-rock project Y Kant Tori Read, launched a solo career that broke through in the early 1990s with the albums Little Earthquakes (1992) and Under the Pink (1994). Her music blends virtuoso piano playing with intimate, often provocative lyrics that explore sexuality, religion, and personal trauma, earning her both critical acclaim and a devoted following. She continued to release influential albums through the 1990s and 2000s, including Boys for Pele (1996) and From the Choirgirl Hotel (1998), establishing herself as a distinctive voice in contemporary music. Beyond recording, Amos is known for her adventurous live performances and her advocacy on issues related to women’s rights and survivors of abuse.