The Mavericks & Friends
The Music Lives On
A ‘WXPN Welcomes’ Event
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.”
Great songs endure, even when their original vocalists are no longer here to sing them. There’s no replacing a once-in-a-generation talent like Raul Malo, but there is a way to honor the music he left behind. That’s why The Mavericks are returning to the road, performing classics like “Come Unto Me,” “Back In Your Arms Again,” and “As Long As There’s Loving Tonight” for the fans who helped make those songs legendary. Presented as “The Mavericks & Friends,” these all-star shows will feature a decade-spanning version of the band, along with guest singers like Emily West and James Otto.
“It’s not just a continuation of The Mavericks; it’s a moving musical art piece, from one show to the next,” Perez explains. “James and Emily can sing these songs with passion, spirit, and energy, because they love this music as much as we do. We might have different guests join us throughout the tour. People who love these songs just as much as we do. Maybe we’ll have a soul singer one night. Maybe we’ll get somebody from the rockabilly scene. Each show in each city will be different, and that’s part of the adventure.”
That adventure has brought different eras of the band together. After a 10 year absence, bass player Robert Reynolds is back in the lineup — a move that not only restores the group’s original rhythm section, but helps bridge the gap between past and present, too. “In this incarnation of The Mavericks, we can celebrate across a wide arc of the band’s music,” Reynolds says. “We can honor Raul by looking at all the songs he wrote, including the early ones. It all becomes relevant again — and for the fans, this is a chance to see a full retrospective that cuts across the entire catalog.”
“Raul would always write our setlist, and it would be different every night,” remembers Jerry Dale McFadden, the band’s keyboardist since 1994. “We have a lot of material to choose from. We released 8 records during the past 13 years alone, and that means our shows can all be a little different. They always have been.”
The world looks different than it did in 1989, when The Mavericks launched their career in the punk bars and rock clubs of Miami. Decades have passed and trends have shifted, but The Mavericks have endured. Now, they’ve found a new path forward as The Mavericks & Friends, honoring their beloved Raul Malo while building upon the legacy he helped create.
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