Raul Malo

Raul Malo

Raul Malo is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and record producer from Miami, Florida. Born Raul Francisco Martínez-Malo Jr. in 1965, he is of Cuban descent and his work draws on country, folk, Latin music, blues, jazz and vintage rock and roll.

Career

Malo starts out as a bass guitarist in high school, playing in a small band on the school dance circuit. That group is known by several names, including The Boys, The Tom Boys and The Basics, and he shares vocal duties with guitarist Tommy Anthony.

In 1990, he becomes the vocalist for The Mavericks, a four-piece band for which he writes most of the songs. He also co-writes many of the band’s singles and contributes to Rick Trevino’s 2003 single “In My Dreams”.

After The Mavericks go on hiatus in the early 2000s, Malo pursues a solo career. From 2001, he also appears in the Los Super Seven supergroup. The Mavericks reform in 2012 and continue to tour extensively.

The Mavericks and recognition

Malo’s tenor voice, influenced by Roy Orbison, helps define The Mavericks’ sound, which combines traditional country, 1950s rock and roll, Latin rhythms, classic country, jazz, pop and western swing. The band becomes one of the leading American acts of the 1990s.

The Mavericks receive several major honours: they are named Top Vocal Group and Top New Vocal Group by the Academy of Country Music in 1994, win Vocal Group of the Year from the Country Music Association in 1995 and again in 1996, and win a Grammy for Best Country Performance by a Group or Duo for “Here Comes the Rain” from Music For All Occasions. In 1996 they also receive awards from CMA Europe in London, including Best Live Performance by a Group, Best Vocal Performance by an Artist, Best Vocal Group of the Year and Best International Touring Artist of the Year, and they are named Best Group of the Year by the Irish Country Music Association in Ireland.

In 2015, The Mavericks win the Americana Music Award for Duo/Group of the Year.

Labels

Malo records with 3 Cubans Music and Raul Malo Music.