Ronnie James Dio

Heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio began his music career in 1957 when he was still in high school. In 1979 he joined Black Sabbath after Ozzy Osbourne was fired. In 1982 he formed a band called "Dio" and a year later released the debut album Holy Diver which received excellent reviews, and is said to be a classic in the heavy metal genre.

Fast Facts

1. Born: July 10, 1942
2. Birth name: Ronald James Padavona
3. Hometown: Portsmouth, New Hampshire
4. Years Active: 1957 - Present
5. Dio in Italian means God

Career

Dio was interested in music as a child. He played the trumpet, and then bass guitar. In high school he joined a band called The Vegas Kings and played bass, but later became the lead singer, and the band's name was changed to Ronnie & The Rumblers, then to . They released a single in 1958.

In the early 1960s he started going by the name "Dio" changed the name of the band he was in Ronnie And The Red Caps to Ronnie Dio and the Prophets. They broke up in 1967.

The guitarist of Deep Purple and Dio went on to form a band called Rainbow, and they released their first album in 1975. Dio left the band after making two more albums with them, and cited creative differences as the reason for his departure.

Dio joined Black Sabbath after leaving Rainbow in 1979. Both Dio and the drummer left in 1982 and formed the band Dio.

Partial Discography

• 1975: Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
• 1976: Rainbow Rising
• 1980: Heaven and Hell
• 1981: Mob Rules
• 1983: Holy Diver
• 1984: 'The Last in Line
• 1987: Dream Evil
• 1992: Diamonds – The Best of Dio
• 1994: Strange Highways
• 1996:Angry Machines
• 2000: Magica
• 2004: Master of the Moon
• 2007: The Dio Years
• 2008: The Rules of Hell

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