Ronald James Padavona (born July 10, 1942 – died May 16, 2010), known professionally as Ronnie James Dio or simply Dio, was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He fronted and/or founded numerous groups including Elf, <a href="/c/books/credit/230469/rainbow/">Rainbow</a>, <a href="/c/books/credit/170534/black-sabbath/">Black Sabbath</a>, Dio, and <a href="/c/books/credit/339013/heaven-hell/">Heaven & Hell</a>. He is credited with popularizing the "metal horns" hand gesture in metal culture and was known for his medieval-themed lyrics.
