GEEZER BUTLER, RITA HANEY To Be Honored At Ronnie James Dio Cancer Fund Gala

The first annual Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund Gala will be held on Tuesday, November 1 at the world-famous Playboy Mansion in Holmby Hills, California. There will be a special performance by ASIA (featuring John Payne),a gourmet dinner, a tour of the grounds (including the grotto) and a full hosted bar. Single tickets are $750.00, "gold" tables are $10,000 and "platinum" tables are $15,000.

Honorees include:

** Tony Martell
Founder, T.J. Martell Foundation
Man on the Silver Mountain Award

** Mike Carden
President, North America, Eagle Rock Entertainment
Rainbow in the Dark Award

** Geezer Butler
Bassist, Black Sabbath/ Heaven & Hell
King of Rock 'n Roll Award

** Sandeep Kapoor, M.D.
Medical Director/Co-Founder, Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund
Sacred Heart Award

** Danny Zelisko
President, Danny Zelisko Presents
Killing the Dragon Award

** Rita Haney
Founder/Widow, Dimebash (in memory of Dimebag Darrell)
Stand Up and Shout Award

Gold Table ($10,000)

* Gold page ad
* Table for 10
* 10 limited-edition commemorative sponsor pins
* Mention on web site and in all event advertising

Platinum Table $15,000

* Platinum page ad
* Table for 12
* 12 limited-edition commemorative sponsor pins
* Mention on web site and in all event advertising

The Ronnie James Dio "Stand Up And Shout" Cancer Fund is a non-profit founded by Ronnie's wife/manager, Wendy Dio, to fund and advocate for cancer research and screenings for societys underprivileged.

For more information, go to this location.

Ronnie James Dio was renowned throughout the world as one of the greatest and most influential vocalists in heavy metal history.
The singer, who was recording and touring with SABBATH offshoot HEAVEN & HELL prior to his illness, was diagnosed with stomach cancer in late 2009. He underwent chemotherapy and made what is now his final public appearance in April 2010 at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards in Los Angeles.

A free public memorial service was held on May 30, 2010 at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles, attended by more than 1,500 fans, friends and fellow musicians.

This past March, it was announced that the surviving members of the final lineup of DIO would embark on a project with former JUDAS PRIEST frontman Tim "Ripper" Owens under the name DIO DISCIPLES.

Ronnie James Dio, real name Ronald James Padavona, was born in New Hampshire on July 10, 1942.

He moved to Cortland, New York at a young age, where he began playing with local acts. A street in Cortland, Dio Way, was named after him in 1988.

He released his first single, with a band called RONNIE AND THE REDCAPS, in 1959.

His first heavy rock act, ELF, released three albums and opened for DEEP PURPLE, where Dio's voice caught the ear of guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. Blackmore recruited Dio for his own band, RAINBOW, after leaving PURPLE in 1975.

Dio recorded three studio albums and one live set with RAINBOW before exiting in 1978, including "Rising" and "Long Live Rock And Roll".

He replaced Ozzy Osbourne in BLACK SABBATH in 1980, recording the "Heaven And Hell" and "Mob Rules" albums, plus "Live Evil", before leaving in 1982. He rejoined the group 10 years later for an album called "Dehumanizer", and again teamed with the group under the HEAVEN & HELL banner in 2006. HEAVEN & HELL released an album called "The Devil You Know" in 2009.

He has also recorded 10 studio albums with his own band, DIO, including a classic 1983 debut, "Holy Diver", and an equally renowned follow-up, 1984's "The Last In Line".

Dio was also behind the HEAR N' AID project, a collection of metal artists who recorded the track "Stars" in 1985 to raise funds for African famine relief.