Raul Malo, the soulful frontman of The Mavericks known for blending Latin flair and lively rock into ’90s country music, died on Monday (December 8) at the age of 60, following a battle with Stage 4 colon cancer. Malo, celebrated for his rich baritone and dynamic stage presence, co-wrote many of the band’s hits and also enjoyed a diverse solo career and work with the supergroup Los Super Seven. Formed in 1989, The Mavericks gained fame with albums like 1994’s What a Crying Shame, and were known for their energetic performances and genre-blending sound. After a split in 1999, they reunited in 2011, touring and releasing new music including their 2024 album, Moon & Stars. “Anyone with the pleasure of being in Raul’s orbit knew that he was a force of human nature, with an infectious energy,” the band wrote in tribute to Malo on Instagram. “Over a career of more than three decades entertaining millions around the globe, his towering creative contributions and unrivaled, generational talent created the kind of multicultural American music reaching far beyond America itself.”
The Mavericks just played a series of tribute shows for Malo at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium over the weekend, where special guests like Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, and Maggie Rose honored his musical legacy. Malo couldn’t attend the shows due to his failing health, but wrote in a heartfelt message: “Music has been the guiding force of my entire life. It carried me from my Cuban American childhood in Miami to stages across the world. It introduced me to my brothers, the Mavericks. It gave me a home in Nashville, Tennessee. It allowed me to raise my three incredible sons, Dino, Vincent, and Max, who are my greatest pride and joy. And it connected me to you fans whose love has sustained me through every chapter of this journey.” (Variety)
