Raul Malo, the soulful tenor and frontman of the Grammy-winning, genre-defying band The Mavericks, has died at the age of 60. Malo had been battling cancer, a fight he openly shared with fans on social media since June 2024, when he revealed he was undergoing treatment for colon cancer. In September 2025, he disclosed that he was also facing leptomeningeal disease, a rare complication in which cancer spreads to the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, which led to the cancellation of several tour dates with Dwight Yoakam.
Malo’s wife, Betty, shared a heartfelt message announcing his passing, saying, “He was called to do another gig — this time in the sky — and he’s flying high like an eagle. No one embodied life and love, joy and passion, family, friends, music, and adventure the way our beloved Raul did.” The Mavericks praised Malo’s dedication to preserving the multilingual American musical repertoire and his commitment to music education as an inspiration for children worldwide.
Born Raul Francisco Martínez-Malo Jr. in Miami to Cuban parents, he co-founded The Mavericks in 1989 with drummer Paul Deakin and bassist Robert Reynolds. Their self-titled debut album appeared the following year on Miami-based independent label Y&T Music. Known for blending alt-country, Americana, Latin, Tejano, swing, rock, traditional country, and surf, Malo’s expansive vocal range and guitar style became the band’s signature. He often described his upbringing as a celebration of diverse musical cultures.
Throughout his career, Malo released numerous solo albums and collaborative projects, including Say Less, You’re Only Lonely, and Sinners & Saints, while The Mavericks released 13 studio albums, including 2024’s Moon & Stars. The band earned a Grammy, multiple Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music Awards, and Malo received a BMI songwriting award for “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down.” He was also nominated for solo Grammys and for his work with the Latin supergroup Los Super Seven.
He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Betty; their three sons, Dino, Victor, and Max; his mother, Norma; his sister, Carol; and his Mavericks bandmates, Paul Deakin, Eddie Perez, and Jerry Dale McFadden. Raul Malo’s music and passion for performance left an indelible mark on fans around the world.