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.
Very sad to hear this news. He was one of greatest singers/songwriters. In Rock history. His music will live on! Keep rockin' in Heaven...
My brother saw Ronnie James in Pekin,il at a bar in the downtown back in the late 80's or early 90's. He really liked them. So did I . Now they are both gone...R.I.P. RONNIE ...You will be missed and remembered.
He's been sent away with so much to say and banished from our fold
I am in awe, I found God's flaw...there's just not much more to say....
Our fallen angel has earned back his wings and now he is where it is sweet and close and warm
Like a flame that's going on the dim and needs blessing from the day..........
ooooh heaven's connection.....
Rest in peace Ronald, we will miss you so much man...PS teach Gabriel some 7 card stud man!!
I think my post is more personal than this.This one was not even edited.:(
Another one of my fave metal gods has now passed on. Now i'm going to have to go home & blast out my "best of" Dio CD. Long live Dio!
you really think he went to heaven? NOT! the man devoted his life to satan...
So sad. He was a really talented musician.
This is a sad day indeed. Dio was one of the heavy metal greats. You will be missed Mr. Dio.
Dude................................? Dio is & will always be!!!!!!!!!!!
We lost another legend. RIP 🙁
Its a sad day in the metal community. Long live rock n roll!
my deepest sympathies to the family of Ronnie James Dio. He will be missed very much.
I'm not even that into metal, but I love Dio, always sad to lose a genuine musician, and now we're left with the likes of justin beiber and 50 cent
We still have Ozzy
A Holy Diver is no more... RIP. Thanks for all!
Rip Ronnie James Dio you were one of a kind.
One of the best voices in history.
No more suffering Rest in peace
As usual, CNN is last to get the story....this has been out for hours...have been waiting for them to confirm....
Nate. You speak of what is unnecessary. The time CNN pronounced Ronnie is beside the point. Do you even know and/or understand the point? A fool is often recognized by the idiot sounds it creates. And so you are.
One of the iconic singers in metal history, and also known as one of the nicest people in the world. RIP.
it`s true
forever in our hearts DIO
Rest in peace Dio...
Sucks. RIP Ronnie \m/
Sad sad day. RIP Dio.
In the dark punk. R .in p.