The Mavericks frontman Raul Malo dead at 60 after cancer battle
A Grammy-winning lead singer of a legendary country-rock band has died at the age of 60, after a battle with a rare form of cancer.
The lead singer and guitarist of the country band The Mavericks has died at 60.
The band announced Raul Malo’s death in a heartbreaking tribute shared on social media, The Sun reports.
Malo’s band members said his soul will live on “here on earth through the music, joy, and light he brought forth.”
No specific cause of death was named; however, in June 2024, Malo shared that he was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer.
After sharing his diagnosis, he told fans in September 2025 that he was diagnosed with leptomeningeal disease, a rare complication when cancer spreads to membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.
The disease forced Malo to cancel shows with The Mavericks and leave his Nashville home for treatment in Houston.
The band posted a lengthy statement on Instagram announcing that the singer died on December 8.
“Anyone with the pleasure of being in Raul’s orbit knew that he was a force of human nature, with an infectious energy,” the statement began.
“Over a career of more than three decades entertaining millions around the globe, his towering creative contributions and unrivalled, generational talent created the kind of multicultural American music reaching far beyond America itself.”
Throughout Malo’s career, he’s been honoured with Grammy, ACM, and CMA awards for his work with The Mavericks.
His awards include a Grammy for Best Country Performance by Duo/Group with Vocal for Here Comes the Rain, two Vocal Group Duo CMA awards, and a BMI award for writing All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down.
Malo also earned Grammy nominations for his solo album, Lucky One.
Awards aside, the band highlighted Malo’s “commitment to the preservation of the multilingual American musical repertoire.”
In 2020, the frontman made history by having the first album 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 honoured with the Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and the National Music Council of the United States’ American Eagle Award,” the band stated.
“His contributions to American and Latin music will be everlasting, as his songs and voice touched fans and fellow artists around the world.”
The singer leaves behind his wife, Betty, to whom he was married for 34 years.
“He was called to do another gig – this time in the sky – and he’s flying high like an eagle,” Betty Malo wrote.
“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 savour every moment.”
He also leaves behind his sons, Dino, Victor, and Max; his mother, Norma; his sister, Carol; and his 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 statement ended.
This article originally appeared in The Sun and has been reproduced with permission.
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Originally published as The Mavericks frontman Raul Malo dead at 60 after cancer battle
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