Elf (band) - Definition and Overview

Elf was a hard rock band founded in 1969 by singer Ronnie James Dio, guitarist Doug Thaler, keyboardist Micky Lee Soule, and drummer Gary Driscoll. During the mid-1960s the band were known as The Electric Elves, then The Elves, before settling on Elf. Nick Pantas was killed in an automobile accident in 1970 and was replaced by David Feinstein. Line-up changes were frequent throughout the band's career. In 1974, Dio was asked by former Deep Purple bass player and producer Roger Glover to sing on Glover's solo album The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast. Dio's rich soulful voice and his band was brought to the attention of guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, who was looking for musicians for his first solo album, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. The band finally called it a day after Dio was invited alone on the second Rainbow album, Rainbow Rising.

Discography

• Elf (1972)
• Carolina County Ball (1974) (US title: L.A./59)
• Trying to Burn the Sun (1975)
• The Gargantuan (1978) compilation
• The Elf Albums (1991) two album compilation set

Members

• Ronnie James Dio: vocals, 1972-1975, bass, early to mid 1972
• David Feinstein: guitar, early to mid 1972
• Mickey Lee Soule: keyboard, 1972-1975
• Gary Driscoll: drums, 1972-1975
• Craig Gruber: bass, mid 1972-1975
• Steve Edwards: guitar, mid 1972-1975
• Mark Nauseef: percussion, 1975