ELF, despite leaving a legacy of some finely crafted hard Blues albums, are best remembered for their ex-vocalist's post ELF exploits than any musical legacy. Ronnie James Dio (real name Ronald Padovana) has proven himself a vocalist of immense stature and character fronting such acts as RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH and DIO. Dio has always imbued his projects with unfettered medieval romanticism with such familiar, some might say overly familiar, imagery such as dragons and rainbows. This trademark lyrical content has been delivered with a majestic vocal range and tone that has made Dio one of the true Rock greats.

Born Ronald Padovana the first acts to feel the DIO touch were school outfits such as THE VEGAS KINGS in 1957, RONNIE AND THE RUMBLERS and RONNIE THE RED CAPS. His first school band, THE VEGAS KINGS, found Ronnie handling vocals, bass guitar and trumpet alongside guitarist Nick Pantas and drummer Tommy Rogers, subsequently adding saxophonist Jack Musci to the line-up. Before the close of the year this same formation had been re-billed as RONNIE AND THE RUMBLERS in homage to DWANE EDDY's track 'Rumble'. On the live front, Ronnie would be learning his craft by performing at dance halls each weekend.

A valuable gig was offered on Johnson City, New York during 1958 but the promoter insisted on a name change, reasoning that the 'rumble' title might incite violence. Re-branded RONNIE AND THE RED CAPS the band continued to perform at dance halls and fraternity parties at Cornell University Briefly the band employed a lead singer named Billy De Wolf, but he was soon to vacate his position and Dio took over once more. However, a significant career marker was reached in 1958 when the band released a 7" single 'Lover'/ 'Conquest' on the Reb label. This single captured De Wolf's lead vocals on the lead track 'Lover' whilst the 'Conquest B side was an instrumental composed by Pantas and Dio, the latter featuring on trumpet. Unfortunately Billy De Wolf's later life story would involve a lengthy prison term.

In the Autumn of 1960 Jack Musci was forged to quit the band due to parental pressure and Dick Bottoff stepped in as the new guitarist. In early 1961 the new look band entered Riposo Studios to cut their second single 'An Angel Is Missing' / 'What'd I Say' for the Seneca label. It was at this juncture that Ronald Padovana took on the stage name Ronnie James Dio.

The sixties had Dio fronting RONNIE DIO AND THE PROPHETS, a band in which he still not only sang but played piano, bass and trumpet. The band, featuring Bottoff, Pantas and Rogers, was to release a string of singles and one album 'Dio at Dominos', recorded at a local Restaurant, on Lawn Records in 1963. 7" singles included January 1962's 'The Ooh-Poo-Pah-Doo' / 'Love Pains', August 1963's 'Swingin' Street' / 'Gonna Make It Alone', the one sided 'Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow', November 1963's 'Mr. Misery' / 'Our Year' and January 1964's 'Love Potion Number Nine'. In 1964 the band members all took time out to tour Sweden as a backing band for Pop singer LIL' BABS.

June of 1965 saw Gary Driscoll taking over on drums and yet more 7" singles followed with 'Say You're Mine Again' / 'Where You Gonna Run To Girl' delivered in July, 'Walking Alone' / 'The Way Of Love' and 'Smiling By Day (Crying By Night)' / 'Dear Darling (I Won't Be Coming Home)' in November. The following year Dio's cousin, guitarist David 'Rock' Feinstein, was inducted to succeed Bottoff, this version of RONNIE DIO AND THE PROPHETS cutting the single 'Walking In Different Circles' / '10 Days With Brenda' in April of 1967. Feinstein had only just learnt the guitar, having previously operated as a drummer for THE CINDELLS.

In the Autumn of 1967 a fresh project, THE ELECTRIC ELVES (subsequently ELF) was forged as Dio broke away from the Rock n' Roll format and began his journey into the realms of Hard Rock. The new band name was prompted by Nicky Pantas' stage boots, which upon getting wet would curl at the toe like an elf's boots. For some time the band used both THE ELECTRIC ELVES and RONNIE DIO AND THE PROPHETS for concert dates, depending on the reputation for each area. The founding membership of THE ELECTRIC ELVES in 1967 comprised Ronnie James Dio on vocals and bass, Nick Pantas and David Feinstein on guitar, Doug Thaler on guitar and keyboards with Gary Driscoll on the drums. The ELF title was taken on in a spirit of humourous self-deprecation at the average stature of the band, Ronnie at 5 foot 4 inches and Feinstein even lower at 5 foot. The only release credited to THE ELECTRIC ELVES would be a December 1967 7" single 'Hey, Look Me Over' / 'It Pays To Advertise'.

As THE ELVES the band produced two acetate demo singles, 'In Different Circles' / 'She's Not The Same' released in September 1969 and February 1970's 'Amber Velvet' / 'West Virginia'. Progress was brought to a shattering halt though on 12th February 1970 when the band was involved in a tragic car accident. Ronnie James Dio went through the vehicle's windscreen, sustaining a head injury requiring over 150 stitches. David Feinstein broke his ankle and suffered facial injuries. Seriously injured, Doug Thaler was hospitalised too but Nicky Pantas died.

In May of 1968 Dio, Feinstein and Driscoll re-assembled the band, pulling in Mickey Lee Soule on keyboards. Thaler rejoined in the guitar role some time after, his recovery having taken much longer. Signing to Decca Records THE ELVES recorded the Scott English produced single 'Walking in Different Circles' / 'She's Not the Same' at Columbia's Church Studios on Thanksgiving Day 1968. 'Amber Velvet' / 'West Virginia' followed in August of 1969, once again produced by English. This single was notable for having David Feinstein having laid down the drums on 'West Virginia' as the studio engineer had mistakenly erased Driscoll's tracks. Doug Thaler decamped in January of 1972, at which point the remaining quartet became ELF.

ELF's adopted Country, Blues flavoured Rock style won favour with DEEP PURPLE's ROGER GLOVER and Ian Paice at a showcase gig for Columbia Records in January of 1972, the famous British band recognising Dio's talent and promptly securing a record deal for his band. Signed to DEEP PURPLE's own imprint Purple Records ELF, together with Glover and Paice acting as producers, entered Studio One in Atlanta, Georgia during April to lay down the opening album simply titled 'Elf'.

Upon completion of tours across the USA supporting DEEP PURPLE, ELF evolved to incorporate Steve Edwards on guitar in place of Feinstein, who journeyed on to form Heavy Metal trio THE RODS, whilst the introduction of Craig Gruber on bass allowed Dio to prioritise lead vocals. During the Summer of 1973, ELF signed to MGM Records for North America and with Purple Records for the United Kingdom and in early 1974 the band travelled to the UK to record their second album at The Manor Studios. Once again seeing ROGER GLOVER as producer the sophomore outing emerged as 'Carolina County Ball'. However, confusingly the US release was titled 'L. A. 59' and was clad in different sleeve art. ELF was back supporting DEEP PURPLE on their UK tour dates throughout April to May of 1974. That same year both Dio and Mickey Lee Soule participated on ROGER GLOVER's conceptual solo project 'Butterfly Ball And The Grasshopper's Feast'. Not only did Dio sing three tracks on this album, he also co-wrote two. That Summer ELF united with AEROSMITH and DEEP PURPLE for US tour dates. A third ELF album, 'Trying To Burn The Sun', featuring percussion work from erstwhile VELVET UNDERGROUND man Mark Nauseef, was recorded before the close of the year.

ELF then fractured as Nauseef quit and Edwards was fired. ELF in their almost their entirety, Dio, Gruber, Lee Soule and Driscoll, joined RITCHIE BLACKMORE's new act RAINBOW. Nauseef teamed up with GILLAN then THIN LIZZY.

ELF did make a latter day attempt at a reunion as Dio reunited with Dave Feinstein, and subsequently Mickey Lee Soule and MANOWAR's Joey Di Mao.