Raul Malo, frontman and founding member of The Mavericks, died on Monday (December 8) after a battle with cancer. He was 60.

The Mavericks confirmed Malo’s death “with the deepest grief” in a statement shared by the band on Tuesday morning (December 9), along with a photo by Alejandro Menendez Vega. “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 & 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.”

Malo’s wife remembered the late artist as “my love,” “a devoted son and brother,” “and a friend to so many,” in a statement of her own. “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.”

Malo was born Raul Francisco Martinez-Malo on August 7, 1965. His parents, who were Cuban immigrants, raised the singer-songwriter and musician in Miami, Florida. He looked up to Roy Orbison, Hank Williams and other artists, and when he met bandmate Robert Reynolds, they started The Mavericks in 1989, per the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The Mavericks’ first album released in the early 90s, and Malo released solo work when the band took a break in the early 2000s. Malo publicly opened up about his cancer battle last year, shortly after The Mavericks released a project featuring Maggie Rose and Sierra Ferrell. Steve Earle, Marty Stuart, Jim Lauderdale, Maggie Rose, Nikki Lane, Joshua Ray Walker and many others took part in a two-night tribute event honoring Malo over the weekend at the historic Ryman Auditorium, according to the Hall of Fame. Rose and others in the music community mourned Malo’s loss in social media posts on Tuesday.

Malo is survived by his wife of more than three decades (Betty), 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 band said “the family thanks everyone for their love & support, and asks for privacy at this time.”

Denise Plante