The Mavericks

Miami

The Mavericks formed in Miami in 1989 around Raul Malo, a first-generation Cuban-American born there in 1965, with bassist Robert Reynolds, drummer Paul Deakin and lead guitarist Ben Peeler. Because they wrote original songs they were steered toward rock clubs rather than country rooms. They released a first album on Y&T Music in 1990, with every song by Malo, and signed to MCA Nashville in 1991; Billboard says Tony Brown signed them. Peeler left in October 1991 and David Lee Holt and then Nick Kane played guitar. Their sound drew on Tejano, Latin and 1950s pop as well as country. From Hell to Paradise (May 12, 1992) was recorded at Criteria Studios and What a Crying Shame (February 1, 1994, produced by Don Cook) reached 6 on the US country chart and went platinum.

Music for All Occasions (September 26, 1995) reached 9 on the country chart and 58 on the Billboard 200, went gold in the US and platinum in Canada, and earned a Grammy nomination for best country album. "Here Comes the Rain" won them a Grammy in 1996. They were CMA vocal group of the year in 1995 and 1996. Trampoline (March 10, 1998) was recorded in about a week with no overdubbing, and "Dance the Night Away" reached number four in the UK. A hiatus began in December 1996 and the band broke up around 2000, reunited for a 2003 album on Sanctuary, and split again after 2003 and 2004 touring.

Reunion and Malo's death

A second reunion began in October 2011, with a 2012 return to touring. In Time (February 26, 2013) was followed by Mono (2015, mixed in mono), Brand New Day (2017), Hey! Merry Christmas! (2018), Play the Hits (2019), En Espanol (August 21, 2020, their first fully Spanish album) and Moon & Stars (May 17, 2024). Mono and Brand New Day were nominated for best Americana album; Grammy.com counts one win and seven nominations. They received the Americana Trailblazer Award in 2021. Reynolds was dismissed in October 2014; Ed Friedland and later Scotty Huff played bass on tour. Raul Malo died on December 8, 2025, aged 60. A tribute concert was held at the Ryman Auditorium that month, and a Music Lives On tour began in May 2026 with guest vocalists James Otto and Emily West.