11/12/2025
“If people feel a sense of inclusive joy when they hear the Mavericks’ music, then I’ve done my job,” Raul Malo told The Tennessean in 2024. It was a reflection of everything he believed music should be — generous, unifying, and life-affirming. Malo, whose soaring voice and singular songwriting shaped the Mavericks’ eclectic sound, passed away on Monday, December 8, at the age of sixty after a 2024 cancer diagnosis.
Born Raul Francisco Martinez-Malo to Cuban immigrant parents in Miami, he grew up surrounded by vibrant musical influences. When he met Robert Reynolds in the late ’80s, the two formed the Mavericks in 1989. In a Miami club scene dominated by rock, they stood out immediately — drawing inspiration from Roy Orbison, Hank Williams, Latin rhythms, and whatever else moved them.
Signed to MCA in 1991, the Mavericks released From Hell to Paradise a year later, which included their energized cover of “Hey, Good Lookin’.” As the decade progressed, the band refined its genre-blending sound — mixing pop, country, Tejano, and roots influences — while delivering electrifying live performances. Their 1994 album What a Crying Shame went platinum, and 1995’s Music for All Occasions produced hit singles like “Here Comes the Rain” and “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down.” After 1998’s Trampoline, the band stepped back for a time, and Malo joined the acclaimed Latin collective Los Super Seven.
During a longer hiatus starting in 2004, Malo released a series of solo albums — including You’re Only Lonely and After Hours — earning a devoted audience within the Americana community. But the Mavericks were far from finished. They reunited in 2011, releasing In Time and Mono through the Valory label before launching their own imprint, Mono Mundo. Under that banner, they released Play the Hits and the celebrated Spanish-language album En Español.
In 2024, the Mavericks issued Moon & Stars, featuring guest appearances from Maggie Rose and Sierra Ferrell. Just after its release, Malo went public with his cancer diagnosis. Though the band had planned a 2025 tour, they soon canceled dates as his health worsened. In early December, friends, collaborators, and admirers from across the American roots community gathered at the Ryman Auditorium for two nights of joyous tribute performances in Raul’s honor. Among those who took the stage were Steve Earle, Marty Stuart, Jim Lauderdale, Maggie Rose, Nikki Lane, Joshua Ray Walker, and many more.
Raul Malo’s voice was unmistakable. His artistry was fearless. And his mission — to create music that made people feel included, uplifted, and alive — will continue to echo long after his final song.
