Dio had been suffering from stomach cancer American heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio, who replaced Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath, has died at the age of 67, his wife and manager have said. Dio had been suffering from stomach cancer. Before joining Black Sabbath he sang in Rainbow - formed when Ritchie Blackmore left Deep Purple - and later in Heaven & Hell and the self-titled band Dio. Dio's wife Wendy paid a loving tribute to her husband on his website, saying: "Today my heart is broken." She said her husband had passed away on Sunday morning. 'Live on forever' "Many, many friends and family were able to say their private goodbyes before he peacefully passed away," she wrote. "Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever." Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi also paid tribute: "I've been in total shock. I just can't believe he's gone. "He loved his fans so much. He was a kind man and would put himself out to help others. I'll miss you so much my dear friend," he wrote on his website. As a mark of respect, the Download Festival will re-name the second stage at this year's festival the Ronnie James Dio stage. He possessed one of the greatest voices in all of heavy metal, and had a heart to match
Jay Jay French,
Twisted Sister guitarist Dio was being treated at a hospital in Houston, Texas, according to his website. The statement of his death was confirmed by Los Angeles publicist Maureen O'Connor, Associated Press reported. Dio revealed last summer that he was suffering from stomach cancer shortly after wrapping up a US tour. He was born Ronald James Padavona to an Italian-American family in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He is said to have got the idea for his name change from a mobster called Johnny Dio. Rated one of rock's most powerful vocalists, he rose to fame in the mid-1970s as lead singer of Rainbow, before replacing Osbourne in Black Sabbath in 1980. Later that year the band released their ninth studio album, Heaven And Hell, considered by many fans as one of the greatest heavy rock LPs of all time. Dio's solo hits included Rainbow In The Dark, The Last In Line, and Holy Diver. "He possessed one of the greatest voices in all of heavy metal, and had a heart to match it," Twisted Sister guitarist Jay Jay French, whose band used to tour with Dio, told AP.
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Dio "throwing the horns". Dio is known for introducing the  into heavy metal culture.

American metal singer  died today at the age of 67, as announced by his wife, Wendy. Dio passed at 07:45 () (13:45 ) at the , an American disease treatment center, after a two-year fight with  that caused him to stop singing while he received treatment. "Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all...Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever," added his wife in a statement on Dio's website.

Dio (born Ronnie James Padavona) was born in July 10, 1942 in the American city of , New Hampshire.  He was most noted for his high pitched vocals and lyrical tales involving battles and themes of good versus evil.

He performed with several hard rock and metal groups, but he was most notable for his first act, when he joined as singer of the British metal group  after lead singer and frontman Ozzy Osbourne left the band in 1979. Before Black Sabbath he performed with several less successful bands, including , led by former 's , and .

He also had a very successful solo career under the simple name "Dio", and had recently reunited with former Black Sabbath band mates under the moniker . Some of Dio's hit songs were '''', '''', and ''''.