The Electric Elves

Rock band from upstate New York, formed in 1967. The original line up featured Ronnie James Dio (vocals/bass), Nick Pantas (guitar), David Feinstein (guitar), Gary Driscoll (drums) and Doug Thaler (keyboards). All the members, except Thaler, had previously performed in Ronnie Dio and the Prophets and, according to Thaler, the Prophets never really ended but just changed their name. The Electric Elves released a single in December of 1967. In February, 1968, the band was involved in an automobile accident which killed Pantas and left Dio, Feinstein, and Thaler injured. Dio,Feinstein, and Driscoll reorganized the band a few months later with new keyboardist Mickey Lee Soule while Thaler was still recovering from his injuries (he later returned as 2nd guitarist). By the end of 1968, the group dumped the "Electric" part of their name and performed simply as The Elves.