Ronnie James Dio

Ronnie James Dio (born Ronald James Padavona; July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010)^[1] was an American heavy metal singer. His parents were Italian Americans. He performed with Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and his own band Dio. He was also part of the band Heaven and Hell (named after Black Sabbath's most famous song), with some of the original Black Sabbath members. Dio was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and raised in Cortland, New York. He starred in the Tenacious D movie, The Pick Of Destiny.^[2]

In November 2009, Dio was diagnosed with stomach cancer, which caused his death in Houston, Texas, on May 16, 2010. He was 68.^[1]

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "Metal legend Ronnie James Dio dead at 67". Retrieved 2010-05-16.^{[permanent dead link]}
2. ↑ "Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny" – via www.imdb.com.