(CNN) -- Condolences continued to pour in late Sunday night following the death of heavy metal rocker Ronnie James Dio, who lost his battle with stomach cancer earlier in the day. "Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45 a.m. 16th May," his wife, Wendy Dio, said in a message on his official website. Dio, 67, followed Ozzy Osbourne as Black Sabbath's lead vocalist in 1979. "Many, many friends and family were able to say their private goodbyes before he peacefully passed away," she wrote. "Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all." The rock community paid tribute to Dio in messages late Sunday.
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Rock community paid tribute to Dio in messages late Sunday
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Dio most recently was touring with the band Heaven and Hell
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His last public appearance was in April at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards
He formed the group @placeholder in 1982 and later Heaven and Hell.