Dio - the pre-Elf years.

Until recently I thought that Elf was Dio's first band. I was wrong. In 1957 (YES 1957!! You know Ronnie Dio IS somewhere over the age of 60) Dio formed a band with high school buddies called The Vegas Kings where he was vocals, bass and trumpet. I don't know of any existing recordings of this band. Then when starting to do gigs, changed the name to Ronnie And The Rumblers. In 1958 by request of a club owner (who didn't want fights or rumbles as they were known then to break out) they changed their name to Ronnie And The Redcaps. Released two singles under this name after adding a new vocalist Billy De Wolf. On the first single "Lover" Billy sings not Dio. The B-side is an instrumental called "Conquest" written by Dio and another band member, Nick Pantas, where Dio plays trumpet on it. Billy left the band during the same year he joined. Dio took over vocals and recorded in 1959 a single called "An Angel Is Missing" with Dio on vocals and the b-side called "What I'd Say". In 1961 they changed their name to Ronnie Dio And The Prophets where they released several singles through out the 60's (all on this comp). They also had a few cover tunes on there including "Love Potion #9" and "Will You Still Love Me". They changed their name in 1967 to the Electric Elves, then later to Elves than finally Elf. I know this is not metal but it is DIO who is a GOD vocalist in the world ! Enjoy DIO 50's/60's style!!

Ronnie And The Redcaps

1. Lover 1958
2. Conquest 1958
3. An Angel Is Missing 1959
4. What I'd Say 1959











Ronnie Dio And The Prophets



1.Ooh Poo Pah Doo 1962
2.Love Pains 1962
3.Gonna Make It Alone 1963
4.Swingin' Street 1963
5.Mr Misery 1963
6.Our Year 1963
7.Love Potion #9 1964
8.Where You Gonna Run To Girl 1965
9.Say You're Mine Again 1965
10.Smiling By Day (Crying By Night) 1965
11.Dear Darlin' (I Won't Be Coming Home)1965
12.Walking Alone 1965
13.The Way Of Love 1965
14.10 Days With Brenda 1967
15.Walking In Different Circles 1967
16.Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow 1963

Big thanks to yappy for the email & links.