Heavy metal legend Ronnie James Dio dies at 67

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Ronnie James Dio, the heavy metal legend who replaced Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath and later piloted the bands Heaven & Hell and Dio, has died, according to Wendy Dio, his wife and manager. He was 67.

Dio announced last fall that he was suffering from stomach cancer. He was being treated at a Houston hospital, according to his website.

‘My heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45 a.m.,’ Wendy Dio said in a statement posted Sunday on the site and confirmed by publicist Maureen O’Connor.

Wendy Dio said that friends and family were able to say their goodbyes to her husband, and asked for privacy.

We’ll have more later at latimes.com/obituaries.

-- Associated Press