An evening with The Mavericks & Friends

For three decades, The Mavericks carved out their Grammy-winning sound — a multicultural version of American roots music, blending stateside influences like country and rock & roll with the border-crossing textures of Cuban grooves, Tex-Mex twang, and Latin swagger — under the direction of Raul Malo. Raul wasn't just the band's frontman; he was its larger-than-life patriarch, with a booming baritone hailed by Rolling Stone as "operatic, spiritual, casually elegant, and wholly captivating." With help from musicians like Paul Deakin, Robert Reynolds, Eddie Perez, and Jerry Dale McFadden, Malo turned The Mavericks into modern-day legends on their own terms, enjoying mainstream success during the 1990s (when songs like "All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down" became staples on country radio) before reinventing themselves as genre-bending independents during the 2010s and beyond.

"Raul was one of those fine-wine singers," says Deakin, who co-founded the band in 1989 in Miami, Florida. "His voice was ridiculously powerful when we first started, and it just got better with age."

A battle with cancer forced Raul off the road in 2025, but his musical influence remained. During his final hours on earth, he watched from afar as his bandmates played the Ryman Auditorium, honoring the man and his melodies with help from guest singers, family members, and a sold-out crowd. This was more than a concert; it was a celebration of the legacy the Mavericks had built together, highlighting the staying power of lifelong friendships and great songs. "Raul used to tell me that every time we released new music, it didn't belong to us anymore; it belonged to the fans," remembers Perez, whose guitar playing became an integral part of The Mavericks' sound during their 21st century reunion. "To me, the band has always transcended the people in it. It's more about the feeling, the vibe, and the high-energy entertainment we give people. We want to continue giving that spirit to our fans."