Raul Malo, the charismatic frontman and co-founder of the Grammy-winning band The Mavericks, has died at the age of 60, his family and band confirmed. Malo passed away on the night of December 8, 2025, after a courageous and much-documented struggle with cancer that spanned more than a year.
Malo first disclosed his diagnosis in June 2024, when he revealed he was battling colon cancer while maintaining his creative output and connection with fans. Despite undergoing surgery and treatment, his condition later progressed to leptomeningeal disease, a rare and aggressive complication that affects the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. This development forced The Mavericks to cancel the remainder of their 2025 tour, including dates alongside Dwight Yoakam.
His passing was announced by his wife, Betty Malo, who described her late husband as a “force of human nature,” celebrated for his boundless energy, creativity and generosity. In her tribute, she wrote that Malo had “been called to do another gig — this time in the sky,” capturing both the sorrow of his loss and the uplifting spirit with which he lived.
Born Raul Francisco Martínez-Malo Jr. in Miami in 1965 to Cuban immigrant parents, Malo co-founded The Mavericks in 1989 with drummer Paul Deakin and bassist Robert Reynolds. The group quickly gained attention for blending traditional country with Latin, rock, swing and Americana influences — a style that defied easy categorization but defined their signature sound. Hits such as “What a Crying Shame,” “O What a Thrill,” and “Here Comes the Rain” marked the band’s early rise in the 1990s.
Over their three-decade career, The Mavericks won multiple awards, including a Grammy and recognitions from the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music. They initially disbanded in the early 2000s but reunited in 2012 to continue touring and recording, releasing albums that further showcased Malo’s expansive musical vision.
Beyond his work with the band, Malo pursued solo projects and collaborated with groups like the Latin supergroup Los Super Seven. His voice — a rich tenor capable of both quiet intimacy and soaring, operatic intensity — became a hallmark of the band’s identity and an enduring influence in Americana and alternative country circles.
Fans and fellow musicians immediately took to social media to express their grief and admiration, recalling the emotional depth of Malo’s performances and his role in elevating genre-blending music. As one longtime admirer wrote, Malo’s voice “felt like a bridge between cultures and generations.”
Malo is survived by his wife of 34 years, Betty, their three sons — Dino, Victor and Max — his mother, Norma, sister Carol, and his Mavericks bandmates. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
His passing marks a sorrowful moment for the music world, but Malo’s legacy endures through his genre-defying work and the generations of fans he inspired with his artistry and passion.
