Ronnie James Dio

"The first real rise to fame was Dio's first major band Elf, which regularly opened for Deep Purple. This would ultimately lead to the formation of Richie Blackmore's Rainbow, which featured Dio as the vocalist for three studio albums and one live LP. Dio and Rainbow would part ways in 1979 and soon afterwards joined one of the greatest heavy metal bands in the history of the genre: Black Sabbath. The relationship between Dio and Black Sabbath wasn't a long one but it did result in the release of two studio albums before he moved on to form his own solo project, the now infamous Dio. He would ultimately return for one more album, 1992's Dehumanizer, but it was a short-lived reunion, Dio ultimately being the more important project in the singer's eyes. Dio was also known for popularizing the sign of the horns in heavy metal. In his final years, Dio once again joined forces with members of Black Sabbath to form Heaven & Hell. Taken from the name of the first album Dio recorded with Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell not only toured the world but also recorded a new album, The Devil You Know, which received positive reviews and landed on charts across the globe. A follow-up album was planned for 2010, but never materialized" (http://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3340653/remembering-ronnie-james-dio/)

First time I heard Dio's voice in Black Sabbath's Lady Evil,I was surprised by his vocals, by his manner of performing live.I was impressed. He taught me to how to be proud of who I am, to stand against millions, and to be confident. He also showed me the importance of music, of how powerful is this phenomenon, the phenomenon of metal. He always treated his fans very right, very respectful, and because of that he still inspires a lot of musicians today. Dio,is one of the several reasons why I want to dedicate my life to music. As Rolling Stone magazine eulogized Dio "He had a raging compassion for the lost rock & roll children in his audience". He is a hero for me, his legacy will live eternally". He taught me that we're not alone in our suffering, and someday we might even be proud of conquering it. His death was one of those moments that rocked the music community. It was the loss of an icon, someone that seemed larger than life. When the phrase "Rock Gods" is uttered, Dio's legacy proves that he belongs in that pantheon, alongside Hendrix, Darrell, and countless others who came and went before their time.

Dio received a number of distinctions and awards. He was inducted into the Cortland City Hall of Fame in 2004, and has a street named after him there called Dio Way. Classic Rock Magazine awarded Dio with the "Metal Guru Award" at their yearly "Roll of Honour" awards ceremony in 2006. On January 17, 2007, Dio was inducted into Guitar Center's Rock Walk of Fame in Hollywood. Dio was named "Best Metal Singer" at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards in April 2010 for his work on The Devil You Know, making him the oldest recipient of this award at age 67.

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For me this man will live forever, 'cause the legacy he left to us is just as big as his amazing soul was. He made his way through decades, he was inspirational, free and, what's most important, he was real. Fame never changed him, never made him a different person, and that's one more reason to admire Ronnie. All the awards he gained will never be enough to express how much he meant to me, or another heavy metal fan who appreciated everything he has done for our community. He still lives, through his music. As we all know, music is eternal, so is he, Ronnie James Dio. Thanks for everything Ronnie. Many will miss you, but just know that I will miss you dearly, because you are my HERO.