Lita Ford

Biography

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Lita Ford (1958-present): a Musician from London, UK.

ita Rossana Ford (born 19 September 1958) is an English-born American guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. She was the lead guitarist for the all-female rock band The Runaways in the late 1970s, before embarking on a successful glam metal solo career that hit its peak in the late 1980s. The 1989 single Close My Eyes Forever, a duet with Ozzy Osbourne, remains Ford's most successful song, reaching 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Ford was born to Harry Lenard Ford and Isabella Benvenuto in London, England; her father was British and her mother was Italian. When she was in second grade, she moved with her family to the United States, eventually settling in Long Beach, California. Inspired by Ritchie Blackmore's with Deep Purple, she began playing the guitar at the age of 11.

In 1975, at age sixteen, Ford was recruited by Kim Fowley to join the all-female rock band The Runaways soon securing a recording contract to release their first album in 1976. The Runaways became a successful recording and touring act during their late-1970s fame until their break-up in April 1979.

In 1982, Ford signed with 'Mercury Records' and quickly launched a solo career. Her debut solo album, Out for Blood (1983), ended off being a commercial disappointment. Her follow-up, Dancin' on the Edge (1984), however, achieved moderate success.

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Ford then signed with 'RCA Records' and hired Sharon Osbourne Management, and re-emerged with a more radio-friendly pop metal sound. That next album would be her most popular, the self-produced Lita (1988). The album was highlighted by Kiss Me Deadly, Back to the Cave, Close My Eyes Forever and Falling in and Out of Love, a song co-written by Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue. The ballad Close My Eyes Forever, a duet with Ozzy Osbourne, remains her most successful song by reaching 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Stiletto (1990) featured the singles Hungry and Lisa (a song dedicated to her mother). However, the album failed to match the success of her previous release. Dangerous Curves (1991) featured her last charting single to date, Shot of Poison. Black (1995) followed on the German 'ZYX Records'.

In the mid-1980s, Ford was briefly engaged to guitarist Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath.

Ford was married to W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes in the early 1990s for a short time. After the couple divorced, Ford met former Nitro vocalist Jim Gillette in 1994; the couple were married after knowing each other for only two weeks. The marriage began to crumble after he entered into negotiations with TLC for a reality TV show, tentatively titled The Gillettes: An Extreme American Family.

Wicked Wonderland (2009), Living Like a Runaway (2012) and Time Capsule (2016) have since followed.

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