Raul Malo, the longtime frontman of The Mavericks, died on Dec. 8, 2025, following a 1 ½ battle with cancer. He was 60.
His death was announced on his Facebook page.
“At 8:52 pm on December 8th, 2025, my love… our boys’ father… a devoted son and brother… and a friend to so many, gained his angel wings. 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. Now he will look down on us with all that heaven will allow, lighting the way and reminding us to savor every moment.
Dino, Victor, Max and I — along with our entire family — thank all of you for your love and support through all of this. We felt every bit of it.
In Raul’s own words: “Muchísimas gracias.”
Raul Malo (1965–2025) was an acclaimed singer, songwriter, and producer best known as the powerhouse frontman of The Mavericks, a band celebrated for blending country, rock, Tex-Mex, Cuban influences, and Americana into a sound uniquely their own. Born in Miami, Florida, to Cuban immigrant parents, Malo grew up surrounded by Latin music, classic country, and early rock ’n’ roll—an eclectic mix that later defined his artistic identity.
Malo co-founded The Mavericks in 1989, quickly earning a reputation for his soaring, Roy Orbison-esque vocals and fearless genre experimentation. The band rose to prominence in the 1990s with hits like “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down,” “Dance the Night Away,” and “Here Comes the Rain,” earning Grammy, ACM, and CMA awards. Their live performances became legendary for their energy, musicianship, and genre-crossing flair.
Beyond The Mavericks, Malo built a respected solo career, exploring everything from traditional country to Latin music and big-band arrangements. His collaborations included work with Los Lobos, The Nashville Mafia, Martina McBride, and many others. He was also a prolific producer and songwriter, known for elevating the artists he worked with through his deep musical intuition.
Malo, a Grammy-winning musician and the voice of The Mavericks for 35 years, revealed in June 2024 that he had been diagnosed with colon cancer. According to USA Today, he soon underwent surgery to remove a liver tumor and began chemotherapy.
He later disclosed that the cancer had progressed to leptomeningeal disease, a serious condition in which cancer cells spread to the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Malo received specialized treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
