Raoul Malo, whose rich voice became the defining trail Mavericksthe aptly named band that brought a Latin flavor and lively rock vibe to country music in the 1990s died Monday, the band announced on social media. The cause of death was not given, but back in June he announced that he was battling stage 4 colon cancer; he was 60.
He co-wrote many of the group's most popular songs, including Rick Trevino's 2003 hit “In My Dreams,” and also worked as a solo artist and member of the supergroup Los Super Seven. The Mavericks broke up in the early 2000s but reunited in 2015 and toured regularly. He has released nine solo albums and a dozen studio albums with Mavericks, most recently 2024's Moon & Stars.
“Anyone who had the pleasure of being in Raoul's orbit knew that he was a force of human nature with an infectious energy,” the band wrote on Instagram. “Over a three-decade career that has entertained millions around the world, his extraordinary creative contributions and unparalleled generational talent have created such a multicultural American music that reaches far beyond the borders of America itself.”
Although the entire band was a powerful force, lead singer Malo brought not only strong, soulful vocals that could oscillate between Roy Orbison-style baritone singing and a country croon, but also a genial humor that often showed up during the band's concerts. The Mavericks earned their skills playing the bars of South Florida and often featured covers in their sets; this writer remembers seeing them perform an impromptu version of “Moon River,” memorably sung by Malo.
The band formed in the late 1980s as rock band The Basics with Malo on bass and backing vocals, along with vocalist-guitarist Robert Reynolds, drummer Paul Deaking and lead guitarist Ben Peeler. However, the band's formula took shape when Malo and Reynolds switched places, with the former eventually becoming the primary songwriter and producer.
More to come…
