Ronald James Padavona, known professionally as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal singer. He fronted and founded numerous bands throughout his career, including Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio, and Heaven & Hell.
Dio graduated from Cortland High School in 1960. He was allegedly offered a scholarship to the prestigious Juilliard School of Music but did not take up the offer due to his interest in rock music. He instead attended the University at Buffalo to major in pharmacology. There, he played trumpet in the university’s concert band; however, he only attended the university from 1960 to 1961 and did not graduate. Then he enrolled at Cortland State College but dropped out as well. In a 2000 interview, he stated that he majored in history and minored in English.
Why did Ronnie James Dio change his name?
Ronnie James Dio change his name because, was inspired to acquire the pseudonym from mobster Giovanni Ignazio Dioguardi, who went by the name of Johnny Dio. The immortal vocalist first as he has been classified put the “Dio” moniker, which means “God” in Italian, on the 1961 release of Ronnie Dio and the Prophets’ second album. The singer used his legendary name in Rainbow, Elf, Black Sabbath, Dio, and Heaven & Hell until his tragic death from stomach cancer in 2010.
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Source: celebfaqs.com
