Lita Ford (born Lita Rossana Ford on September 19, 1958 in London, U.K.) is a hard rock singer and guitarist who achieved popularity during the 1980s. Ford was born in London but is of Italian heritage. She moved with her family to the United States while still very young. She began playing the guitar at age 11. In 1976 at the age of 17 she became one of the founding members of the legendary teenage all-female hard rock band The Runaways. There she played lead guitar. After the group folded in 1979, she began a solo career. Her guitar playing was well respected amongst her peers, both when she was a member of The Runaways and as a solo act.