The Mavericks Lead Singer Raul Malo Shares Health Update

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.