Ronnie James Dio

Ronald James Padovana (10 July 1942 - 16 May 2010) joined/formed his first band in 1957 called The Vegas Kings, which was later changed to Ronnie & The Rumblers, and ultimately Ronnie & The Red Caps, this band called it quits in 1961. Next Dio formed Ronnie Dio and the Prophets in the autumn of 1961, the band lasted until 1967. After this Dio formed The Electric Elves (1967-1969), The Elves (1969-1970), and finally the more well known Elf (1970-1975). From this Dio sang for Rainbow (1975-1978).

Next Dio formed Ronnie Dio and the Prophets in the autumn of 1961, the band lasted until 1967. After this Dio formed The Electric Elves (1967-1969), The Elves (1969-1970), and finally the more well known Elf (1970-1975). From this Dio sang for Rainbow (1975-1978). After his work in Rainbow he went on to sing for Black Sabbath from (1979-1982), he later appeared in Black Sabbath again in late 1991-1992. After his split from Black Sabbath for the first time he went on to start his solo career known as Dio which started in 1983.

Ronnie James Dio is generally credited as the originator of the famous "mano cornuta" (or "devil horns") symbol in the metal world. According to him, his grandmother used to make the symbol as a sigil to ward off evil. Dio started using the gesture onstage in the early days of his career.

Roger Glover, the bass player of Deep Purple, had, as a solo artist, a world wide hit in 1974, "Love is All". It had, for those days, a very special videoclip, with a frog. It was Ronnie James Dio who did the vocals for that song.

In October 2006, it was confirmed that Dio would be joining Black Sabbath members Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and former Black Sabbath drummer Vinny Appice to tour under the moniker Heaven & Hell, the title of the first Dio era Black Sabbath album. They chose the name Heaven & Hell as Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler were still in Black Sabbath with Ozzy Osbourne and felt it was best to use a different moniker for the Dio version of the band. Original Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward was to be involved in this project, but he later withdrew. In 2008 the band completed a 98-date world tour. The band released one album under the Heaven & Hell name, The Devil You Know, to critical and commercial acclaim. They also had planned to release a follow-up in 2010, but Dio died of stomach cancer on May 16 of that year.