Raul Malo, the songwriter and vocalist for the Mavericks, has passed away. He was sixty years old.
At the time of his passing on Monday, December 8th, Malo had been diagnosed with cancer. It was reported by the Cleveland Clinic and Rolling Stone that he disclosed in September 2025 that he was undergoing treatment for leptomeningeal disease (LMD), which is a kind of cancer that affects both the brain and the spinal cord.
Initially, Rolling Stone was the publication that broke the news of his passing.
“It is with the deepest grief that we share the passing of our friend, bandmate, and brother Raul Malo on December 8th, 2025 at the age of sixty,” the band’s members penned in a statement that was obtained by PEOPLE.
The statement said, “Anyone who had the privilege of being in Raul’s orbit knew that he was a force of human nature, with an energy that was contagious.” With his towering creative contributions and unequaled, generational skill, he developed the sort of multicultural American music that has reached well beyond the borders of the United States of America throughout the course of a career that spanned more than three decades and entertained millions of people all over the world.
Malo was lauded for his “spirited performances,” which resulted in his gaining a “massive and loyal following.” Additionally, his outstanding songwriting and musicianship merited him many Grammy, American Country Music, and Country Music Association honors.
“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,” the group said in their statement.
A number of honors were bestowed upon Malo for his advocacy, and the band praised the fact that he was a “steadfast championing of music education as an inspiration for every child across America and throughout the world.”
“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,” the statement stated in its entirety. “His contributions to American and Latin music will be everlasting, as his songs and voice touched fans and fellow artists around the world.” People also received a message from the Malo family on the musical talent who passed away.
No one else was able to capture the essence of life and love, happiness and passion, family and friends, music and adventure quite as our dearly departed Raul did. At this moment, Jesus will gaze down on us with all the grace that heaven can bestow, illuminating the path ahead of us and prompting us to cherish each and every moment,” they said.
“Dino, Victor, Max, and I, along with our entire family, would like to express our gratitude to each and every one of you for your love and support throughout this entire process,” the message added. The whole thing was sensed by us. The phrases “Muchísimas gracias” are Raul’s own utterances.
In a post that she published on Instagram on Sunday, December 7, Malo’s wife Betty provided updates about her husband’s sickness. She also requested that people send them cards and letters and encouraged them to make donations to their GoFundMe page.
After a day had passed, she posted a picture of Malo with “one of his huge musical influences Tony Bennett.”
“As Raul spends his time now with our immediate family, please continue to lift him and everyone up in prayer as he battles #LMDCancer a rare form of brain cancer,” she said in the description of the article.
As a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, Malo was born in Miami. He was also a musician. 1989 was the year that he was a co-founder of the Mavericks, and the following year, they would independently release their first album, which was named after themselves. Over the course of their career, the band has published thirteen albums and has been honored with one Grammy Award.
Throughout his career, Malo was a co-writer on a number of tracks released by the Mavericks. He even contributed to the writing of Rick Trevino’s tune “In My Dreams” in the year 2003. Beginning in the early 2000s, Malo began his solo career, and in 2001, he became a member of the Los Super Seven supergroup. This occurred after the Mavericks had disintegrated. By the year 2012, the Mavericks had reformed and were still currently on tour.
Malo disclosed that he had been diagnosed with cancer in June of 2024, and in September of 2025, he canceled the remaining dates of his tour owing to his sickness.
Malo’s wife of 34 years, Betty, his kids Dino, Victor, and Max, his mother Norma, his sister Carol, and his Mavericks bandmates Paul Deakin, Eddie Perez, and Jerry Dale McFadden are among those who are able to go on via his legacy.
