Ronnie James Dio, whose real name was Ronald James Padavona, was an American
heavy metal rock singer who was frontman at different times for the bands
Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Dio. Born in New England, he began playing music as a
child and in 1957 joined a band called Vegas Kings. He went on to form Ronnie
Dio and the Prophets, which later became Electric Elves. A stint with Ritchie
Blackmore's band Rainbow lasted from 1975 to 1979 when he succeeded Ozzy
Osbourne as frontman for Black Sabbath for three years. In 1982, he formed his
own band called Dio with drummer Vinny Appice,...