Ronnie James Dio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ronnie James Dio
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Dio performing in 2009
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| Born |
Ronald James Padavona
July 10, 1942 |
| Died | May 16, 2010 (aged 67) Houston, Texas, U.S.
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| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, California, U.S. |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1957–2010 |
| Spouse(s) |
Loretta Berardi
(m. 1963; div. 1973)Wendy Walters
(m. 1978) |
| Children | 1 (adopted) |
| Musical career | |
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Ronald James Padavona (born July 10, 1942 – died May 16, 2010), known as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal singer. He was famous for his powerful voice and for leading many bands. These bands included Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio, and Heaven & Hell.
Dio was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. His family moved back to Cortland, New York, where he grew up. His music journey started in 1957. He quickly became known as a top singer in heavy rock. He also helped make the "devil horns" hand gesture popular in metal music. His songs often had themes from medieval times.
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Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Ronnie James Padavona was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. His parents, Patrick and Anna, were Italian-American. They were from Cortland, New York. The family moved to Portsmouth because his father was in the U.S. Army. They soon returned to Cortland, where Dio spent his childhood.
Growing up, Padavona listened to a lot of opera music. He was inspired by the singer Mario Lanza. He started learning to play the trumpet at age 5. In high school, he joined the school band. He was one of the youngest members in the school's dance band.
During high school, Padavona started his first rock 'n' roll group. It was called The Vegas Kings. Later, it became Ronnie and the Rumblers, then Ronnie and the Red Caps. He started as a trumpet player but soon began singing. He also played bass guitar for his bands.
Padavona finished high school in Cortland in 1960. He was offered a scholarship to the famous Juilliard School of Music. However, he chose not to go because he loved rock music more. He went to the University at Buffalo for a year. He also attended Cortland State College briefly.
Even with his strong singing voice, Padavona said he never had vocal lessons. He believed his singing skills came from the breathing techniques he learned playing the trumpet.
Career Highlights
Early Bands and the Name "Dio"
Ronnie's music career began in 1957. He formed The Vegas Kings with other musicians from Cortland. The band changed names several times. It became Ronnie and the Rumblers, then Ronnie and the Redcaps.
In 1960, Ronnie started using the stage name "Dio." One story says his grandmother told him he had a gift from God. "Dio" means "God" in Italian. Soon after, the band changed its name to Ronnie Dio and the Prophets. They toured New York and played at college parties. They released several songs.
In late 1967, Ronnie Dio and the Prophets became The Electric Elves. They added a keyboard player. In 1968, the band had a car accident. Their guitarist, Nick Pantas, died. Dio and other members were hurt. After this, the group became The Elves. In 1972, they released their first album as Elf. Elf often opened shows for the famous band Deep Purple. They made three albums before breaking up in 1975.
Joining Rainbow
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In the mid-1970s, Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore noticed Dio's voice. Blackmore was leaving Deep Purple. He asked Dio to record some songs with him. Blackmore was very happy with the results. He decided to form a new band called Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow.
Rainbow released their first album, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, in 1975. Dio recorded two more studio albums with Rainbow: Rising (1976) and Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (1978). Dio wrote all the lyrics for these albums. He also helped Blackmore with the music. Dio and Blackmore were the only members who stayed in the band the whole time. They eventually went their separate ways. Blackmore wanted Rainbow to have a more pop sound.
Time with Black Sabbath
After leaving Rainbow in 1979, Dio joined Black Sabbath. He replaced their singer, Ozzy Osbourne. Dio met Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi by chance in Los Angeles. Both musicians were looking for new projects. Dio said it felt like "fate" because they connected right away.
They wrote the song "Children of the Sea" on their first day together. This song appeared on the album Heaven and Hell, released in 1980. It was the first Black Sabbath album with Dio singing. The next album, Mob Rules (1981), had a new drummer, Vinny Appice.
Later, some disagreements started within the band. In 1982, Dio and Appice left Black Sabbath. They returned in 1991 to record the album Dehumanizer. This album was successful, reaching the Top 40 in the UK. A song from it, "Time Machine," was in the movie Wayne's World. By the end of 1992, Dio and Appice left the band again.
Forming Dio
Dio and Vinny Appice wanted to keep playing together. So, in 1982, they formed their own heavy metal band called Dio. Vivian Campbell played guitar, and Jimmy Bain played bass. Their first album, Holy Diver, came out in 1983. It had hit songs like "Rainbow in the Dark" and "Holy Diver". These songs are still very famous for the band.
The band added keyboardist Claude Schnell. They released two more albums: The Last in Line (1984) and Sacred Heart (1985). The band's members changed over the years. By 1990, Dio was the only original member left. The band toured and recorded often. They released 10 albums in total, with Master of the Moon in 2004 being the last.
Heaven & Hell Project
In 2006, Dio joined Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Vinny Appice again. These were all members from Black Sabbath. They decided to tour under the name Heaven & Hell. This name came from the first Black Sabbath album Dio sang on. They used a different name because Iommi and Butler were still in Black Sabbath with Ozzy Osbourne.
In 2007, the band recorded three new songs for a collection album. In 2008, they went on a big world tour. Heaven & Hell released one album, The Devil You Know, in 2009. It was very popular. They planned to release another album in 2010.
Other Musical Projects
In 1974, Dio sang on a concept album called The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast. He sang on songs like "Homeward" and "Love Is All." In 1985, Dio helped with the Hear 'n Aid project. This was a charity project by heavy metal artists. He sang on the song "Stars." The project raised $1 million for charity.
In 1999, Dio was featured in the TV show South Park. He later said it was "wonderful." The band Tenacious D wrote a tribute song called "Dio." Dio liked it and appeared in their music video "Push" in 2002. He also appeared in the movie Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny.
In 2005, Dio was the voice of Dr. X in Operation: Mindcrime II. This was a sequel to a famous concept album by Queensrÿche. Dio's autobiography, Rainbow in the Dark: The Autobiography, was finished by his wife Wendy Dio and Mick Wall. It was published in 2021 after his death. A documentary about his life, DIO: Dreamers Never Die, came out in 2022.
Personal Life
Dio married Loretta Berardi in 1963. They adopted a son. They divorced in 1972. In 1978, Dio married Wendy Walters. She also became his manager. They separated later but did not divorce.
In 2003, Dio accidentally cut his thumb while gardening. A heavy garden gnome fell on it. He was worried he could not do his famous "devil's horns" hand gesture anymore. But a doctor was able to re-attach it.
Illness and Passing
On November 25, 2009, Dio announced he had stomach cancer. He started treatment in Houston, Texas. On May 4, 2010, Heaven & Hell canceled their summer shows because of Dio's health. His last live show was on August 29, 2009. Ronnie James Dio passed away from his illness on May 16, 2010.
Two weeks after he passed, a public memorial service was held in Los Angeles. Many fans, friends, and bandmates attended. They gave speeches and performed music. A documentary about Dio's career was also shown.
Legacy and Influence
Ronnie James Dio's career lasted over 50 years. He received many awards and honors. In 2004, he was added to the Cortland City Hall of Fame. A street there is named Dio Way. Classic Rock Magazine gave him the "Metal Guru Award" in 2006.
In 2007, Dio was added to Guitar Center's Rock Walk of Fame in Hollywood. He was named "Best Metal Singer" at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards in 2010. He was 67 years old, making him the oldest person to win this award. He accepted the award in person, one month before he passed away.
The main stage at the Bloodstock Open Air festival is named after him. The main stage at the Masters of Rock festival also carries his name. There is a monument of Dio in Kavarna, Bulgaria. In Mexico, a big metal festival called "Hell and Heaven" is named in his honor.
Rolling Stone magazine praised Dio. They said he had "raging compassion" for his audience. They noted he made fans feel they were not alone. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Dio among the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.
On July 10, 2011, on Dio's birthday, Cortland, New York, held a special event. It was a benefit concert for the Stand Up and Shout Cancer foundation. Part of the money raised went to a music scholarship in his name.
In 2014, a tribute album called Ronnie James Dio This Is Your Life was released. His wife, Wendy Gaxiola, organized it. The money from the album helps the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund.
In 2016, a hologram of Dio performed live at a festival. A second hologram was made for a world tour in 2017. In 2017, Dio was inducted into the Hall of Heavy Metal History.
Dio once said his legacy included the albums Heaven and Hell and Rainbow Rising. The main villain in the Japanese series JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Dio Brando, is partly named after him. In the TV show Stranger Things, a character wears a vest with artwork from Dio's album The Last in Line.
Discography
Timeline
See also
In Spanish: Ronnie James Dio para niños
