Ronnie James Dio Memorial Event Confirmed for May
Ronnie James Dio's widow Wendy has announced final details for a fifth-anniversary remembrance in Los Angeles. Scheduled for May 15-17, the event is keyed to a free public memorial set for May 16 near his gravesite at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills. Former band members and friends are expected to speak and perform during the three days.
The weekend begins on Friday (May 15) with a celebrity bowling tournament, to be held at Pinz Bowling Center in Studio City. Proceeds from a silent auction will go to the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund, which has already raised nearly $1 million since Dio's 2010 passing.
The inaugural Ride for Ronnie motorcycle event and barbecue follows on Sunday (May 17); the route travels from Harley-Davidson of Glendale to Los Encinos Park in Encino, Calif. There will be food, live music and a raffle-silent auction afterward.
Seating is limited for the May 16 public memorial, so organizers are asking that those interested in attending send their name, phone number and seat requests to info@diocancerfund.org. Go here updates on registering for the Ride for Ronnie event and to purchase tickets for the celebrity bowling and barbecue.
The first public memorial for Dio, held on May 30, 2010, at Forest Lawn, was attended by more than 1,500 fans, fellow musicians and friends. The recent all-star tribute album, ‘Ronnie James Dio: This Is Your Life,’ also raised funds for Stand Up and Shout.
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