Delores Rhoads, the mother of Ozzy Osbourne guitar legend Randy Rhoads, has died today (November 11th) at the age of 95. 

The Randy Rhoads Society added in a statement: “It's with a heavy heart that the Rhoads family announces the passing of their beloved mother and grandmother, Delores K. Rhoads, this morning peacefully at her home.

Ozzy Osbourne: “I am deeply saddened to hear of Mrs. Rhoads passing. She was a wonderful woman and will be missed. I have no doubt she is reunited with her son Randy.”

Rudy Sarzo: “The world today has lost one of the most gracious and sweetest ladies I'm blessed to have known, Delores Rhoads. Please keep her and the Rhoads family in your prayers.”

"Randy grew up musically in my school (Musonia School Of Music in North Hollywood),” his Mrs. Rhoads said in an interview, "I am sure he was influenced by this in many ways. He started when he was so young, he was somewhere between six-and-a-half and seven when he started lessons. In those days, way back then, we started them with the folk guitar where they learned the chords and a few pop songs. All Randy ever wanted to do was play the guitar. I don't remember him ever saying he wanted to do anything else. I can't remember a time before he played guitar."

A historical tribute to Delores Rhoads from the Rhoadies Facebook Page reads as follows:

Music is in her blood, coronet her passion, and her family is her life!!
 
At age six she started out playing piano in San Bernardino at the start of The Great Depression. One day her father, Dr. Fred B. Kell, took a Coronet as trade for his services. So the story begins.
 
She studied under Herbert L Clark, a well-known American cornet player who was first seat and featured Coronet soloist in John Philip Sousa’s Band (Stars & Stripes Forever), bandmaster, And composer.
 
As a Music Major she attended San Bernardino Community College, where she met Mr William A Rhoads, then on to UCLA where she was the driving force in fighting for Womens Rights to play in the UCLA Marching Band.
 
In the summer of 1948, at 28yrs of age, along with a business partner, bought land, hired an Architect, designed, built and opened Musonia School Of Music in North Hollywood, CA.  She actually Helped with laying the bricks for the walkway leading to the front door of the school. And has taught thousands of students over the years.

(Photo courtesy of Randy Rhoads Society)