Craig Gruber
Gruber (June 15, 1951 – May 5, 2015) was an American rock bassist, best known as the original bassist in Rainbow. He also played in Elf, consisting of vocalist Ronnie James Dio, keyboardist Mickey Lee Soule, drummer Gary Driscoll, and guitarist Steve Edwards.
Craig Gruber
- Name
- Craig Gruber
- Born
- 15 June 1951
- Birthplace
- Cortland, New York, U.S.
- Died
- 5 May 2015
- Place of death
- Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
- Occupation
- Bassist
- Nationality
- United States
- Fields
- rock music
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Gruber (June 15, 1951 – May 5, 2015) was an American rock bassist, best known as the original bassist in Rainbow. He also played in Elf, consisting of vocalist Ronnie James Dio, keyboardist Mickey Lee Soule, drummer Gary Driscoll, and guitarist Steve Edwards.
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Authority files
wikidata · Q2552277 · wikipedia · Craig Gruber
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Craig Gruber • Landscape — yes • Born — 15 June 1951 • Birthplace — Cortland, New York, U.S. • Died — 5 May 2015 • Place of death — Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. • Occupation — Bassist • Years Active — 1970s–2015 • Past Member Of — Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Bible Black, Gary Moore, Raven Lord
Biography
Biography
Elf released three albums before they joined Ritchie Blackmore in his newly formed band Rainbow in mid-1975. Gruber played on Rainbow's first album, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. Soon after the album was released, Blackmore fired everyone except Dio. Gruber was also in the early recording sessions on Black Sabbath's Heaven and Hell album, co-writing "Die Young," until Geezer Butler heard Dio, and returned to the band. Gruber played live with Gary Moore on his supporting tour for his album Victims of the Future, and featured on Moore's 1984 live album We Want Moore! In 1980 he formed Bible Black with former Elf and Rainbow drummer Gary Driscoll. The band released three albums before Driscoll's murder in 1987. Gruber had also been working on an Elf reunion, even though it seemed unlikely given the deaths of Driscoll and frontman Ronnie James Dio; both of whom had been members of the band from foundation until dissolution. Early in 2010 Gruber formed "ED3N"- a metal band in the classic rock genre. The band featured Gruber's former Bible Black bandmate and vocalist Jeff Fenholt and guitarist David Shankle, of DSG and formerly Manowar.
Death
Death
Craig Gruber died of prostate cancer in Florida on May 5, 2015, aged 63.
With Elf
With Elf
• Carolina County Ball (1974) • Trying to Burn the Sun (1975)
With Rainbow
With Rainbow
• Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow (1975)
With Ozz
With Ozz
• No Prisoners (1980)
With Bible Black
With Bible Black
• Bible Black (1981) • Ground Zero (1983)
With Gary Moore
With Gary Moore
• We Want Moore! (1984) • Blinder (Ca. 1984)
With The Rods
With The Rods
• Heavier Than Thou (1986)
Identity
Identity
Craig Gruber is recorded as a citizen of United States. Recorded with the occupation musician. Classed in the genre rock music.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
2015
Craig Gruber died at Jacksonville.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Cortland.
Birth place
Jacksonville.
Death place
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Craig Gruber”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q2552277: Craig Gruber
General reference · Wikidata
Citations
References
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reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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