LOS ANGELES- California
Ronnie James Dio, whose soaring vocals, poetic lyrics and mythic tales of a never-ending struggle between good and evil broke new ground in rock & roll, died Sunday, according to a statement from his wife and manager. He was 67.
Dio revealed last summer that he was suffering from stomach cancer shortly after wrapping up a tour in Atlantic City, N.J. with the latest incarnation of Black Sabbath, under the name Heaven and Hell.
“Today my heart is broken, Wendy Dio wrote on the singer’s site, adding he died at 7:45 a.m. “Many, many friends and family were able to say their private goodbyes before he peacefully passed away.
“Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all,” Wendy Dio continued. “We so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us … Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever.”
The statement was confirmed by Los Angeles publicist Maureen O’Connor.
Dio rose to fame in 1975 as the first lead singer of Rainbow, the heavy metal band put together by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, who had just quit Deep Purple.
Dio then replaced legendary vocalist Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath in 1980 with the critically acclaimed album “Heaven And Hell,” considered by many critics to be one of the finest heavy-metal albums of all time. His on-again, off-again tenure with Black Sabbath touched off an intense debate among fans as to which singer was the true essence of the band — a discussion that lasted until his death.
He also enjoyed a successful solo career with his self-titled band, Dio, in between his three stints with Black Sabbath (1980-82; 1992; and 2007-2009, when the band toured as Heaven And Hell, to differentiate it from Osbourne-led versions of Sabbath). Dio was also inducted into the Rock Walk of Fame in Hollywood in 2007.
Many of his most memorable songs revolved around the struggle between good and evil, including his signature tune “Heaven And Hell. He also drew heavily on medieval imagery in songs like “Neon Knights, “Killing The Dragon and “Stargazer.
“He possessed one of the greatest voices in all of heavy metal, and had a heart to match it, said Twisted Sister guitarist Jay Jay French, whose band toured with Dio since 1983, and was to do so again this summer at European rock festivals. “He was the nicest, classiest person you would ever want to meet.
Dio organized an all-star charity collaboration in 1986 called “Hear N Aid” to raise money for famine relief in Africa, styled on the successful “We Are The World” campaign of a few years earlier.
His solo hits included “Rainbow In The Dark,” “The Last In Line” and “Holy Diver.”
Wendy Dio said that friends and family were able to say their goodbyes to her husband, and asked for privacy. She concluded: “Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever.”
I remember when Ronnie James Dio became the front man for Black Sabbath. My friends and I went to see Black Sabbath at the Los Angeles Colissium in 1979-1980. It was one heck of a concert. When Ronnie James Dio belted out the classic Black Sabbath song Heaven and Hell, it was awesome.
When Dio fronted for Rainbow and Richie Blackmore, they were the best.
He was truly one of my favorite rock & roll vocalist of all time; he will be missed.
Welcome, my name is 
DIO Will be missed. I have always loved his voice. I think that DIO and Bruce Dickinson Of IRON MAIDEN Were the best metal vocalists EVER.