Black Sabbath frontman Ronnie James Dio died at 7:45am on Sunday. He was 67.

Dio declared last year that he was battling with stomach cancer and was receiving treatment from a Houston hospital.

His wife Wendy Dio released a statement on his website ronniejamesdio.com, saying "Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45am 16th May. Many, many friends and family were able to say their private good-byes before he peacefully passed away."

"Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all. We so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us."

"Please give us a few days of privacy to deal with this terrible loss. Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever," she expressed.

According to the website, fans may leave their condolences on Facebook.

In Dio's more than 50-year-old career, he led the bands Elf, Rainbow, and Heaven And Hell. He replaced Ozzy Osborne as Black Sabbath's vocalist in 1979 when Osborne was dismissed from the band.

Dio was acclaimed to have one of the most powerful and consisitent vocals in heavy metal. His dark stage persona was his trademark.

He popularized the "devil horn" in the metal culture, which was a hand gesture that he got from his grandmother used to ward off the evil eye. The devil horn was very usual with superstitious Southern Italians.