Lately it feels like this blog is becoming a website for eulogies of fallen greats, but sure enough, that’s exactly what’s happening.

This week’s eulogy is for Raul Malo, the magnetic and honey-throated front man for Americana outfit The Mavericks. Malo’s cause of death was a brief, but horrific bout with cancer. Diagnosed in June 2024 with colon cancer, he made the announcement public and then fought bravely until his death. In September of 2025 Malo canceled his remaining tour dates to focus on his health. He was hospitalized in early December and forced to miss Nashville-based tribute shows. His bandmates in The Mavericks visited him on Dec. 6 to say a final farewell. He died two days later. He was 60 years young.

Born in Miami to Cuban immigrants Malo was based in Nashville, TN since the early 1990s. The Mavericks formed in Miami and eventually relocated o Nashville. After one independent album they were signed to MCA Nashville and released four albums on the label. Their final album as a band was in 2000 on Mercury Records. Three years after disbanding they reunite for a 2003 album on Sanctuary Records. Nine years later, the band signed to Big Machine Records’ Valory imprint for a series of new albums and an EP.

The band charted 15 times on the Billboard Hot Country songs with their highest-performing single being the freewheeling and luminescent “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down” a collaboration with the late accordionist extraordinaire Flaco Jimenez. Another hit, that charted mostly in the UK (and should have charted in America) was 1988’s “Dance the Night Away.”

Their most commercially successful album What a Crying Shame was certified platinum and went double platinum in Canada. The Mavericks received one Grammy Awards, two CM Awards and three ACM Awards. Their music was a mix of Tejano, Latin, Americana, 1950s pop, country, alt-country/Americana, Tex-Mex, country rock and throwback country. Their most recent album was 2024’s Moon + Stars. In all the band released 13 studio albums, six compilation albums, three live albums and one EP.

As a solo artist, Malo released nine albums from 2001 – 2023, with his most recent being Say Less, releaed in 2023 on the Malo’s Mundo Mundo Recordings, the same label that released The Mavericks’ last five albums and a 2016 live album (All Night Live: Volume 1).

While his death was earlier this week, this blog is an invitation (and perhaps an imploring decree) to bypass the Christmas music for a bit and listen to The Mavericks this weekend. You can resume the Christmas music on Monday. I assure you, you won’t be disappointed.