Lita Ford

Infobox musical artist
Name = Lita Ford


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Background = solo_singer
Alias =
Given Name = Carmelita Rosanna Ford
Born = Birth date and age|1958|9|19|df=y London, England
Instrument = Vocals, Guitar
Genre = Hard rock Glam metal Heavy metal
Occupation = Musician, Singer-songwriter
Years_active = 1975 – present
Label = Mercury, RCA
Associated_acts = The Runaways
URL =
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Lita Ford (born September 19, 1958) is an American rock musician and singer who was the lead guitarist for The Runaways and achieved popularity for her solo career during the 1980s.

Biography

Early life

Ford was born Carmelita Rossanna Ford to a British father, and an Italian mother in London, England. She moved with her family to the United States at age 4. She began playing the guitar at age 11. Her vocal range is that of a mezzo-soprano. [cite book
last = Martin
first = Bill
coauthors =
title = Pro Secrets Of Heavy Rock Singing
publisher = Sanctuary Publishing
year = 2002
pages = Page 9
month =
id = ISBN 1-86074-437-0]

In 1975 at the age of 17 she joined the all-female rock band The Runaways, for whom she played lead guitar.

olo career

After the group folded in 1979, she began a solo career. Her first two albums, "Out for Blood" and "Dancin' on the Edge" were moderately successful. "Out For Blood" featured the single "Out For Blood". Her next album "Dancin' on the Edge" was even more successful. It featured the single "Fire in my Heart" which reached the top 10 in several countries. The next single "Gotta Let Go" was one of Ford's biggest hits. It reached number one on the Mainstream Rock charts.

Ford toured extensively and made several guest appearances on TV shows for the next four years, but had no releases; a follow-up to "Dancin' on the Edge", titled "The Bride Wore Black", was abandoned and never released due to the fact Ford did not like the production of the album and this upset the head of her record label causing Ford to switch from Mercury Records to RCA Records. By the time Ford returned again, the lighter pop-metal she had long favored had broken through to mainstream audiences, which set the stage for her most commercially successful album, 1988's "Lita". With Sharon Osbourne as her manager, and again produced by herself, the album featured four commercial hits, including the #1 "Kiss Me Deadly", #9 "Back to the Cave", #2 "Close My Eyes Forever", and #3 "Falling In and Out of Love" (co-written with Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe). The ballad "Close My Eyes Forever," was a duet with Ozzy Osbourne. It was also her only Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hit, reaching #8.

Her next release was called Stilleto. It featured the singles "Hungry" and "Lisa"; which was dedicated to her mother. However this album was not as successful as "Dancin' on the Edge" and "Lita."

Ford's next release was "Dangerous Curves." Ford's last release would be with ZYX Records and would be titled "Black". It failed to repeat the success of 1991's "Dangerous Curves".

Ford was asked by VH-1 to be in the cast of "The Surreal Life" for its 7th season, in 2007. She declined.

Ford appears in the 1992 film Highway to Hell as 'The Hitchhiker'.

During her solo years, she was an endorsee of B.C. Rich guitars and used Mockingbird and Bich double-neck models.

In mid June 2008, Ford and her new solo band played several warm up gigs prior to Rocklahoma under the name "Kiss Me Deadly" in the New York City area. [ [http://www.eddietrunk.com/index.cfm/pk/view/cd/NAA/cdid/402306/pid/401816 Eddie Trunk ] ]

Personal life

Lita Ford is married to Jim Gillette, of the band Nitro. With him she has two sons, with their first son having been born on Jim and Lita's third wedding anniversary.

Tributes

An achievement in the Xbox 360 version of the game Guitar Hero II, is titled the "Joan & Lita Award" in tribute to Lita and Joan Jett. It is awarded to two players who can get a 100 note streak in cooperative mode.

The song Kiss Me Deadly was covered in a Compilation album called Metalliska. The song was covered by Reel Big Fish.

Rocklahoma 2008

For the first time in 15 years, Lita Ford will be taking the stage in her only North American appearance at Rocklahoma, in Pryor, Oklahoma, on Saturday, July 12th. Her new band is drummer Stet Howland (Wasp), Guitarist Tom Cavanagh (Bent Pussycat/Almost Queen), Teddy Cook (Dio) and Michael T. Ross (Angel/XYZ). [ [http://www.pryordailytimes.com/local/local_story_084100743.html Pryor Daily Times - Lita Ford to play Rocklahoma ] ]

Discography

tudio albums

Compilation albums

* "Greatest Hits" (1999)
* "Greatest Hits Live" (2000)
* "Platinum and Gold Collection - The Best of Lita Ford" (2004)

Other appearances

* "I'll Be Home for Christmas" with Twisted Sister on "A Twisted Christmas" (2006)
* "I Want To Be Loved" with LOU on "The Other Side" (2005)

ingles

Tours

* 1981 - "Queens of Rock Tour" with Joan Jett and Sandy West
* 1982 - "Rulers of Metal Tour" with Black Sabbath
* 1983 - "Out For Blood Tour" with Scandal, Wes Luthor, and Tony Schladora
* 1984 - "Dressed To Kill Tour" with Anthrax, The Johnson Brothers Band, Skillet, Metal Mania
* 1985 - "South and Central America Tour" with Soundgarden
* 1986 - "Wild Tour" with several local bands opening at different venues
* 1986 - "Metal Rulz Tour" with Poison, Motley Crue, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne.

References

External links

*
* [http://personal.telefonica.terra.es/web/metalqueens/lita-.htm Lita Ford (Metal Queens)]
* [http://www.profcs.com/app/aftrack.asp?afid=254891&u=www.rmaxinternational.com/murdock/murdock52.html RMAX International Magazine interview]

Persondata
NAME= Ford, Lita
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Ford, Carmelita Rosanna
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Musician, Songwriter
DATE OF BIRTH= September 23, 1958
PLACE OF BIRTH= London, England
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=