Heavy metal rocker Ronnie James Dio died Sunday morning after a battle with stomach cancer, his wife announced.
"Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45 a.m. 16th May," Wendy Dio said in a message posted on his official website.
Dio, 67, followed Ozzy Osbourne as Black Sabbath's lead vocalist in 1979.
"Many, many friends and family were able to say their private good-byes before he peacefully passed away," she wrote. "Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all."
Born Ronald James Padavona in 1942, Dio's professional music career began as a high school student in the late 1950s.
His 1960s rock group The Electric Elves evolved into Elf by the early 1970s, when the group played heavy blues rock.
Dio's rock became darker with his band Rainbow, which he left in 1979 to join Black Sabbath.
Black Sabbath released three albums with Dio, including "Heaven and Hell" in 1980, "Mob Rules" in 1981 and "Live Evil" in 1982.
Dio left that band in 1982, but he had a brief reunion with the group a decade later. He formed the group Dio in 1982. The group continued to perform until his illness.
His last public appearance was in April at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards when he accepted a vocalist of the year award his work on last year's Heaven and Hell album. Dio appeared frail, but he was able to speak when accepting his award.
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She's much too classy for someone of your caliber, Bert
I just want to say thank you for all your music you given us. My prayers go out to the family and you will always rock in my heart. Again thank you for all the years you given me. You will be missed.
Satan ..
You don't have that much music ... you liar. You're the father of lies ... remember?
Oh, and I wasn't aware that having an open-minded approach towards music and some loose lips were proxies for intelligence. You must be extraordinarily insecure about your own intelligence to constantly deride others and call people morons over an internet message board on a story about an individual who died after a long battle with stomach cancer.
Craig K ... more like sackcloth... but you wouldn't understand that.. This guy didn't stand for anything good..
Such sad news.
We have lost a legend today, he has transcended all genres and generations, I attended a concert less than a year ago, and he always gave it his absolute best. He loved his fans, and his fans loved him, the connection was felt at every single gig, no matter how big or small, and it is obvious in the out-pour or love and support towards his everlasting memory.
All must live to breath and die. . . Now DIo's gone to Rock the sky. RIP rocker.
The "bull horns" will definitely be missed. Rock on RJD you will live forever in our hearts!!
my heart just got ripped out my chest. He was truly the best frontman that could capture any crowd and really move you. Had the pleasure of seeing him ten times through the years and it was better every time, the guy never had a off night. I WILL MISS YOU RONNIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RONNIE....REST IN PEACE.....YOU ROCK!! ...YOU WILL BE MISSED!!
Ronnie was truly a class act. When he pointed at you in concert, you just knew he saw YOU! R.I.P. Ronnie!
Rock on, Master Dio!
A beautiful voice. Many people instantly think hard-rocking, but this man had subtle depth that could put your to sleep and make you dream good dreams. RIP Ronnie, and hope you've finally caught your rainbow.
WOW..
what a trip.i sit here listening to holy diver and remembering what DIO nad SABBATH brought to me as a young raging pain in the ass to my folks.
all i can think is heaven is gonna be 1 bad ass show.
thoughts and prayers to his family.
thanks RJD... what a ride,say hi to jerry for me, yo guys are missed and will always be remembered.
God Bless Ronnie James Dio and
Thank you
gracias por ser uuna gran persona y un gran musico q descanse en paz como el es dio