Did you know? RONNIE JAMES DIO began his musical career as early as 1957!

Published September 3 2023 at 14:34

Ronald James Padavona, known professionally as Ronnie James Dio, was a prominent American Rock vocalist, born on July 10, 1942, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. His parents hailed from Cortland, New York, but due to his father's U.S. Army service during World War II, the family temporarily resided in New Hampshire before returning to Cortland when Dio was quite young. He remained in Cortland until his high school graduation in 1960.

Dio's journey in the world of music commenced in 1957 when he became a part of the Vegas Kings, later renamed Ronnie and the Rumblers. In 1967, he took the initiative to establish the rock band Elf, which eventually became a regular opening act for the renowned Deep Purple. In 1975, Ritchie Blackmore, the guitarist of Deep Purple, formed the band Rainbow and recruited Dio as the lead vocalist. During his time with Rainbow, the band produced three studio albums, firmly establishing Dio as one of the standout vocalists in the realm of heavy rock.

In 1979, a significant turning point occurred in Dio's career when he assumed the role of lead singer for Black Sabbath, replacing Ozzy Osbourne. This collaboration resulted in three highly successful studio albums: "Heaven & Hell" (1980), "Mob Rules" (1981), and "Dehumanizer" (1992).

In 1982, Dio decided to part ways and formed his own band, aptly named Dio. This new venture achieved considerable success, with two of their albums earning platinum certification from the RIAA for sales in the U.S..

In 2006, Dio reunited with his former bandmate Tony Iommi to establish the band Heaven & Hell.

However, in November 2009, a somber chapter unfolded in Dio's life when he received a diagnosis of stomach cancer. Sadly, he succumbed to the disease six months later, on May 16, 2010.