MUSIC NEWS- Sad news, rocker, Ronnie James Dio, 67, whose gift of amazing, wailing vocals and mythic tales of a constant struggle between good & evil that broke new ground in the world heavy metal music, died on Sunday, May 16, 2010 according to a statement from his wife and manager, Wendy Dio.
Wendy Dio wrote today on Dio's website ; "Today my heart is broken," noting that Ronnie died at 7:45am. "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," she 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."
Lastyear, after ending a tour in Atlantic City, NJ, Dio revealed he was suffering from stomach cancer . At the time, he had been touring with the latest version of Black Sabbath under the name Heaven And Hell and vowed to fight the disease.
The news has been confirmed by his L.A. publicist Maureen O'Connor. Dio was being treated at a Houston hospital, according to his site. Though Dio had recently undergone his seventh chemotherapy treatment, he was optimistic about performing again, but earlier this month, Heaven And Hell canceled their summer tour, but Dio did not consider he would be out permanently.
"Wendy, my doctors and I have worked so hard to make it happen for all of you, the ones we care so much about, that this setback could be devastating, but we will not let it be," he said in a statement at the time. "With your continued love and support, we ... will carry on and thrive. There will be other tours, more music, more life and much more magic."
In 1975 ,Dio became the first lead singer of Rainbow, the heavy metal band assembled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, who had just left Deep Purple. Dio went on to replace legendary vocalist Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath in 1980 on the critically acclaimed album "Heaven And Hell". The album has gone on to be considered to be one of the finest heavy metal albums of all time. His on-again, off-again work with Black Sabbath caused numerous discussion among metal fans about which of the two singers was the real heart of the band; a discussion that lasts until this day.
Ronnie also enjoyed a successful solo career with his self-titled band, Dio, in between his three runs 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).
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