The Mavericks Frontman Raul Malo Passes Away At 60 Following Cancer Battle

This one hurts.

Raul Malo, the frontman for Latin-fusion country band The Mavericks, has passed away at the age of 60 following a battle with cancer.

Last year, Malo revealed his diagnosis in a video message on Instagram, saying that the band had been on a “health kick” which led to the discovery of cancerous spots in his digestive system:

“Obviously, this isn’t the news I was hoping to get, or to share with you all. But I’ve got a great team of doctors and medical professionals here in Nashville. They’ve reassured me this is a very common form of cancer, and my odds are good.”

While the band was forced to cancel some of their shows along the way as Malo underwent chemotherapy, he was largely able to continue on the road uninterrupted, with The Mavericks going on tour with Dwight Yoakam for 2025. But back in September, Malo announced that things had taken a turn for the worse, and that all of their remaining shows this year would be cancelled:

“I’ve developed something called LMD, which stands for “get this sh– out of my head”. Treatment for this is radiation, which I will start tomorrow. We will probably jump into some chemo, and are even looking at alternative therapies. But it’s time to take your words to heart of resting & recovering, so that’s what I’m going to do.”

LMD, or leptomeningeal disease, is a serious cancer complication in which tumors spread to the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, causing neurological symptoms.

Despite the diagnosis, The Mavericks were at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville this past weekend for two celebrations to honor Malo, joined by an all-star cast of artists and music industry executives as the band was presented with the American Eagle Award from the National Music Council.

But unfortunately, Malo had to be rushed to the hospital last week and wasn’t able to accept the award in person, instead sending a letter that was read by Big Machine label head Scott Borchetta:

“Music has been the guiding force of my entire life. In these past months, I’ve had to fight battles I’ve never imagined. But on the hardest of days, music remained my companion. Your letters, your stories of how a song helped you through loss, heartbreak, joy, those became our songs. You all carried me more than you know. To my family band, the National Music Council, my musical collaborators, and every fan around the world: Thank you for giving my voice a place to live, even when my body cannot be the one delivering it.”

And this morning, the band announced that Malo passed away yesterday at the age of 60:

“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…

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.”

 

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The Mavericks were founded in 1989 by Malo along with his friend Robert Reynolds, drummer Paul Deakin, and guitarist Ben Peeler. Malo and Reynolds were inspired to start a band by their shared love of artists like Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash, and blended Latin sounds with rock, country and blues for a sound that was uniquely their own.

The band won Top Vocal Group at the 1994 and 1995 ACM Awards, and Vocal Group of the Year at the CMA Awards in both 1995 and 1996. They won a Grammy for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1996 for their song “Here Comes the Rain,” and scored one of the biggest hits of their career with “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down” in 1997.

The Mavericks were not only trailblazers in country music, but they were also one of the most talented bands the genre has ever seen, thanks in no small part to the contributions of frontman Raul Malo.

Rest in peace, and rest assured that you’ve left a legacy that will continue long after you’re gone.The post The Mavericks Frontman Raul Malo Passes Away At 60 Following Cancer Battle first appeared on Whiskey Riff.