The Mavericks’ Raul Malo Has Died

The Mavericks frontman Raul Malo has died at age 60. Malo was diagnosed with cancer in 2024 and forced to cancel performances earlier this year.

Statements regarding Malo’s passing were posted by his family and The Mavericks. The band’s message about Malo follows:

It’s with the deepest grief we share the passing of our friend, bandmate and brother Raul Malo on December 8th, 2025 at the age of 60.

Anyone with the pleasure of being in Raul’s orbit knew that he was a force of human nature, with an infectious energy. Over a career of more than three decades entertaining millions around the globe, his towering creative contributions and unrivaled, generational talent created the kind of multicultural American music reaching far beyond America itself.

While his spirited performances garnered a massive nd loyal following, and his powerful songwriting and musicianship earned multiple Grammy, ACM, and CMA awards, it was his lifelong commitment to the preservation of the multi-lingual American musical repertoire of which he was most proud, making history in 2020 with the first album ever to debut at the top of both the Latin Pop and Folk-Americana charts.

It was this commitment, along with his steadfast championing of music education as an inspiration for every child across America and throughout the world, for which Raul was honored with the Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and the National Music Council of the United States’ American Eagle Award.

Though his earthly body may have passed, Raul’s spirit will live on forever in heaven, and here on earth through the music, joy, and light he brought forth. His contributions to American and Latin music will be everlasting, as his songs and voice touched fans and fellow artists around the world.

Raul is survived by his loving 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.

The family thanks everyone for their love & support, and asks for privacy at this time.

The note written by his widow, Betty Malo, read:

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.”

Malo was a co-founding member of The Mavericks, forming the group in Miami in 1989. Their self-titled debut album was released in 1990. Malo remained a consistent member of the band through multiple hiatuses and lineup changes.

In 2021, the Americana Music Association bestowed The Mavericks with the Americana Trailblazer Award. The Mavericks’ most recent album was 2024’s Moon & Stars.

The Mavericks — guitarist Eddie Perez, keyboardist Jerry Dale McFadden and drummer Paul Deakin — performed two concerts celebrating Malo last weekend at The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

“Dance The Night Away: A 35-Year Musical Legacy Celebrating The Mavericks & Honoring Raul Malo” saw the band joined by Marty Stuart, Steve Earle, Jamey Johnson, Jim Lauderdale, Maggie Rose, Nikki Lane, Seth Walker, Jimmie Vaughan, Nicole Atkins, Joshua Ray Walker and several others.