Elf
This US heavy rock unit was formed in 1967 by vocalist Ronnie James Dio (b. Ronald Padavona, 10 July 1940, New Hampshire, USA) with cousin Dave Feinstein on guitar, plus Gary Driscoll (drums), Doug Thaler (keyboards) and Nick Pantas (guitar). They actually worked under the title Electric Elves until 1970 when the entire band was involved in a car-crash, in which guitarist Nick Pantas died and Thaler was hospitalized. Mickey Lee Soule (keyboards/guitar) was added to a reshuffled line-up, who were spotted by Roger Glover and Ian Paice of Deep Purplein 1972. A production and recording deal was arranged, with Elf supporting Deep Purple on two American tours. However, the group's bar-room blues and boogie always came across better live than in the studio (witness posthumous live album for MGM). In 1973 Elf recruited bassist Craig Gruber, allowing Dio to concentrate on vocals. Their guitarist, Feinstein, gave up touring and was replaced first by Doug Thaler, previously keyboard player for the Elves, and then Steve Edwards. From 1974 Mark Nauseef (later Ian Gillan and Thin Lizzy) played percussion for the band. In 1975 Glover gave Dio the opportunity to appear on his project, THE BUTTERFLY BALL, and this gave Dio the widespread recognition he desired. Ritchie Blackmore stepped in to co-opt Elf into his Rainbow project, though after five months only Dio remained as former Elf musicians Gruber, Lee Soule and Driscoll were summarily dispensed with.