“My odds are good. Fortunately, we have a plan in place, and I’m feeling great,” Raul Malo shared with fans.
The Mavericks frontman and lead guitarist Raul Malo shared with fans on Thursday (June 27) that he is undergoing treatment for cancer. In a video posted to the group’s official Instagram page, Malo noted that the cancer was detected after he underwent a physical, a catscan, and a colonoscopy.
In a statement Malo wrote to fans (and provided to Billboard), the singer further shared, “Recently, the doctors found a few cancerous spots in my digestive system. Obviously, this isn’t the news I was hoping to get, or to share with you all.”
However, Malo was quick to tell fans that he is surrounded by a top team of doctors and medical professionals in Nashville, adding, “They’ve reassured me this is a very common form of cancer, and my odds are good. Fortunately, we have a plan in place, and I’m feeling great! I’ll continue to be as active as possible throughout these treatments, but it does mean a few shows may be affected this year, and we’ll have more information for you as soon as possible on that.”
Malo added, “But most importantly, I wanted to say to my fellow men out there, and anyone who may be reading this — It’s important to take care of your health, and to see a doctor for checkups, especially if something is wrong. With modern medicine, these types of cancer are very survivable with proper treatment, but if you don’t get checked, you’ll never know. It’s important to do it for your family, the people around you, and those you love.
“I’m sharing this message in the spirit of transparency and honesty, as you all have stuck with us throughout these 35 crazy years of music, shows, breaking up, & getting back together – we’ve even survived a pandemic together,” he continued, “We’ll get through this just like we have everything else. In the meantime, I want you to know I’m not going anywhere, and I’ll look forward to seeing you all out on the road again soon.”
Malo also thanked fans for their support of the group’s recent album Moon & Stars, which released May 17 and featured appearances from Sierra Ferrell, Maggie Rose, Nicole Atkins, and Max Abrams.
The Mavericks have been on tour this year in support of the album, but noted that a few shows will have to be canceled or postponed. Shows in Aspen, Colorado (set for July 12) and Steamboat Springs, Colorado (July 14) have been canceled, while a July 13 show in Denver has been rescheduled to Aug. 25. Later in the year, the group has shows slated in Los Angeles, Dallas, and Detroit, as well as a pair of shows at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Dec. 6-7.
The group, which meshes the talents of Malo, guitarist Eddie Perez, keyboard player Jerry Dale McFadden, and drummer Paul Deakin, formed in Miami and relocated to Nashville in the 1980s. In the years since releasing their self-titled debut album in 1990, the Mavericks have become known for their genre-melding blend of country, rock, Tejano, samba, soul, and more. In 1995, they earned a Grammy win for best country performance by a duo/group with vocals for “Here Comes the Rain.” The group has seen five of their albums reach the top 10 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, including 2015’s Mono. In 2020, the group leaned into its Latin roots, with the release of the project En Español.
Raul Malo is the incomparable frontman of genre-defying, GRAMMY Award-winning band The Mavericks, and the sole writer of many of their songs. His free-wheeling, swaggering style seamlessly blends neotraditional country, rock ’n roll, and Latin rhythmic fervor, and prominently features his lush, soaring baritone. His compositional craftsmanship includes progressive and timeless hits like “Here Comes the Rain,” “What A Crying Shame”, “Dance The Night Away”, “Back In Your Arms Again”, and “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down.” From his earliest days, when his raucous sound broke ground at the punk clubs on Miami Beach, to fronting The Mavericks over three decades of acclaimed touring and recording, Malo has demonstrated an unfailing skill for getting people to groove.
“They’ve reassured me this is a very common form of cancer, and my odds are good,” said Malo.
Raul Malo, the robust voice of the Mavericks, told fans on Thursday that he’s been diagnosed with cancer. In both a statement to Rolling Stone and in a video message on Instagram, Malo, 58, said doctors discovered some “cancerous spots in my digestive system” after undergoing a physical, colonoscopy, and catscan.
“Obviously, this isn’t the news I was hoping to get, or to share with you all. But I’ve got a great team of doctors and medical professionals here in Nashville. They’ve reassured me this is a very common form of cancer, and my odds are good,” Malo said.
Malo stressed that he wanted to use his diagnosis to empower others to be vigilant about their health and schedule regular screenings. “We want you all to get checked out. Go see a doctor. Be proactive in your health,” he said. “It’ll help fight whatever ails you.”
Formed in 1989, the Mavericks — made up of Malo, drummer Paul Deakin, keyboardist Jerry Dale McFadden, and guitarist Eddie Perez — are one of music’s most eclectic bands, mixing country, rock, Tex-Mex, and the Cuban influence of their native Miami to create a vibrant and often dance-ready sound. In May, they released their latest album, Moon & Stars, an album full of rhythmic drums, bright brass, and Malo’s rich, booming voice, led by the single “Live Close By (Visit Often).”
As a result of Malo’s diagnosis and treatment, he said that some dates on the Mavericks’ current tour will be affected, but explained that the type of chemotherapy treatment he’ll be receiving allows most people to continue working with little interruption. “So let’s hope for the best,” he said. “Stay healthy, take care of yourselves, and I’ll see you out on the road.”
The Mavericks are canceling two concerts in Colorado, one July 12 in Aspen, the other July 14 in Steamboat Springs. A July 13 date in Denver will be rescheduled for Aug. 25.
Tonight, the band will play Syracuse, New York, before heading to Hammondsport, New York, for a show on June 29. The group will also perform at the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular on July 4 in Boston.
Malo’s health issues come a year after co-founder Deakin underwent both heart and brain surgery, causing him to take some time away from the drum kit. He is currently back on tour with the band.
Read Malo’s full statement here:
Hey everyone,
Raul here. I wanted to say hello, and a big thank you for all the support on our new album Moon & Stars. We hope you’ve been loving these new tunes as much as we’ve enjoyed playing them out on the road this summer.
I also wanted to share a bit of personal news. Recently, the doctors found a few cancerous spots in my digestive system. Obviously, this isn’t the news I was hoping to get, or to share with you all. But I’ve got a great team of doctors and medical professionals here in Nashville. They’ve reassured me this is a very common form of cancer, and my odds are good. Fortunately we have a plan in place, and I’m feeling great! I’ll continue to be as active as possible throughout these treatments, but it does mean a few shows may be affected this year, and we’ll have more information for you as soon as possible on that.
But most importantly, I wanted to say to my fellow men out there, and anyone who may be reading this — It’s important to take care of your health, and to see a doctor for checkups, especially if something is wrong. With modern medicine, these types of cancer are very survivable with proper treatment, but if you don’t get checked, you’ll never know. It’s important to do it for your family, the people around you, and those you love.
I’m sharing this message in the spirit of transparency and honesty, as you all have stuck with us throughout these 35 crazy years of music, shows, breaking up, & getting back together – we’ve even survived a pandemic together. We’ll get through this just like we have everything else. In the meantime, I want you to know I’m not going anywhere, and I’ll look forward to seeing you all out on the road again soon.
With love, Raul
Source: Billboard, Rolling Stone
