Raul Malo, the soulful tenor and frontman of The Mavericks, has died at age 60

NEW YORK — Raoul Malo, the soulful tenor and frontman of the genre-defying Grammy Award-winning band The Mavericks, has died. He was 60.

Malo died Monday evening, his wife Betty Malo said on her Facebook page. He was battling cancer. The Mavericks frontman has been documenting his health on social media since he revealed in June 2024 that he was undergoing treatment for colon cancer.

In September 2025, Malo announced on Instagram that he was battling LMD, or leptomeningeal disease, a rare complication where cancer spreads to the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

The diagnosis forced The Mavericks to cancel shows with Dwight Yoakam in the middle of their joint tour. Malo left his home in Nashville, Tennessee, to receive treatment in Houston, updating his fans on his health journey.

“He's been invited to another concert – this time in the sky – and he's flying high like an eagle,” Betty Malo wrote. “No one embodied life and love, joy and passion, family, friends, music and adventure like our beloved Raoul did. Now he will look down on us with all that heaven allows, lighting the way and reminding us to enjoy every moment.”

Malo's group praised his deep commitment to “preserving the multilingual American musical repertoire” and his strong support of “music education as a source of inspiration for every child in America and around the world.”

Raul Francisco Martinez Malo Jr. was born in Miami to Cuban parents. In 1989, he formed The Mavericks with drummer Paul Deakin and bass player Robert Reynolds. Their self-titled debut album was released the following year on the Miami-based independent label Y.&T Music.

Some call the group alt-country. Others describe it as Americana, roots, Latin, Tejano or swing. It's all of the above and more, driven by the songs Malo wrote, his expansive guitar style and wide vocal range, from a soaring, velvety baritone to operatic high notes.

His musical prowess was a mixture of rock, traditional country and surf. In the early days of Miami, The Mavericks performed in punk and rock clubs to establish their sound there.

“I grew up in a family where we listened to a wide variety of music,” Malo said in a 2020 NPR interview. “I just remember it was a celebration of all these cultures.”

At the time, The Mavericks had just released an all-Spanish album, En Español, which featured original songs and classic Latin standards. In 2002, Malo released an all-Spanish children's album, “el Cancionero de la Familia Volume 1”, which featured his sister Carol, wife Betty and mother Norma, as well as other guests.

Over the years, the group has undergone various changes as some members have come and gone. The Mavericks also broke up a couple of times. Malo has also released nearly a dozen solo albums and collaborations, including the instrumentals “Say Less,” “You're Only Lonely” and “Sinners.” & Saints.”

The Mavericks released their 13th studio album, Moon & Stars” in 2024. Between that and their debut, the group received a Grammy, two Country Music Association awards and three Academy of Country Music awards.

Raul has a BMI Songwriting Award for “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down” and has been nominated for several solo Grammy Awards, including for the album “Lucky One” and for his work with Latin supergroup Los Super Seven.

He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Betty; sons Dino, Victor and Max, mother Norma, sister Carol and Mavericks bandmates Paul Deakin, Eddie Perez and Jerry Dale McFadden.