Ronnie James Dio was a bass player

[Richland123]

Ronnie James Dio's (Ronald James Padavona) musical career began in 1957 when several Cortland, New York musicians formed the band The Vegas Kings, which soon changed their name to Ronnie and the Rumblers. This band's lineup had Padavona on the bass guitar, along with singer Billy de Wolf, guitarist Nick Pantas, drummer Tom Rogers, and saxophone player Jack Musci.

In 1958, the band again changed their name, along with a few changes of personnel. The band was now known as Ronnie and the Redcaps. At this point, Padavona began singing, replacing de Wolf. Musci also left the band, and a new guitarist, Dick Botoff, joined. The Redcaps lineup released two singles: "Lover" b/w "Conquest" (with De Wolf on vocals on the A-side) on the Reb label, and on Seneca (S 178-102, USA) in 1958 and 'An Angel Is Missing' with 'What'd I Say' on the B side (both songs featuring Ronnie Padavona on vocals) in 1959.

In 1961, they changed their name to Ronnie Dio and The Prophets. The Prophets lineup lasted for quite a long time and produced several singles and one album. Some sources state that some of the single releases were made by Ronnie James Dio solo, but others, such as Dio himself, state that all of the singles were made as a band.

Here is one of their singles with Dio on lead vocal - An Angel Is Missing

 

[Unrepresented]

Ronnie James Dio has an immortal voice. Guy still sounds great today and he's 50 years into his professional career. The rest of us should be so lucky as to have his endurance.

 

[xTHEREMINx]

sucks about the stomach cancer

 

[squirefan]

I'd never have guessed. Incredible!
Thanks for that info. Can't wait to amaze my friends/stun my enemies.

 

[JimmyM]

wow, who knew he was 67? what's happening? when did everyone get so old?

 

[Qvist]

He's amazing man!!

 

[thehangingmist]

cool find!

 

[corinpills]

I love it. He sounds great on that old stuff, too.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

I played with his guitar player back in high school (Craig Goldy). Nice guy. Even friended me on FB. He was quite the born-again christian back then - which puzzled the hell out of me when I heard he joined Dio...

 

[jaywa]

Maybe that explains why you can always hear the bass loud and clear on Dio's records.

Lovin the bass tone on "Rainbow in the Dark", "Holy Diver" and other.

 

[Exploiter8]

Thanks for the info and links!

X8

 

[countrybassist]

I don't know if there is any truth behind this, but I also heard that he was a phamacist.

 

[CapnSev]

I played with his guitar player back in high school (Craig Goldy). Nice guy. Even friended me on FB. He was quite the born-again christian back then - which puzzled the hell out of me when I heard he joined Dio...

Just means he likes to rock, that's all.

 

[anechoic]

I don't know if there is any truth behind this, but I also heard that he was a phamacist.

"Pharmacist" as in the guy who fills your prescription at CVS, or the guy that sells you an eight ball in the alley behind CVS?

 

[anechoic]

sucks about the stomach cancer

Yeah, that's kind of a bummer. Sounds like he's doing well with treatment. My grandfather had his stomach removed due to cancer back in the 80s and lived another 20 years before just being old finally got him.

 

[guitardefector]

Met Ronnie James Dio in the early 80s while bartending in Hollywood. Nicest guy you could ever meet. No egotripping or disparaging remarks common to so many celebrities. I think he also left me a big tip. An encounter I'll always remember!!

 

[funkybass4ever]

I met him once - he was shopping after hours at a mall and we talked for minute- he was totally cool. A small guy with a huge voice!

 

[plankspanker13]

Met him at Adray's Electronics in Van Nuys, CA, and marvelled at how diminutive he is.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

10-Jul-42
RJD was born:

 

[starjag]

And what about that modded EB-0? Ronnie James Dio Gibson EB-0 bass