Heavy metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio passed away on June 16 after a battle with stomach cancer. He was 67 years old. Dio was raised in upstate New York, and first appeared as the lead singer of the band Elf. In 1975, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, who had just left Deep Purple, tapped him as the singer for the newly formed Rainbow; Dio recorded three successful albums with the group and established himself has one of the most powerful singers in rock with songs such as “Man On The Silver Mountain” and “Stargazer.”
In 1980, when Ozzy Osbourne left Black Sabbath, Dio stepped in, recording Heaven and Hell, one of the most acclaimed metal albums ever. He went on to record with and front the band for three different stints, including the recent incarnation as Heaven and Hell (so named to differentiate the band from the Ozzy-led Sabbath reunions). In 1986 he organized the successful metal-flavored “Hear N’ Aid” all-star charity for African famine relief.
He also had a very successful and long-running solo career, with numerous metal hits, including “Holy Diver,” “Rainbow In the Dark,”Hungry For Heaven,” and many more. Our condolences to his friends, fans, and family.