The Mavericks: Taking the High Road

The year was 1989, the place Miami, where Raul Malo, only son of Cuban immigrants had been making public appearances, since the age of 12.

A chance encounter at a record store, brought him and Robert Reynolds (a Missouri native transplanted to Florida soil) together. Raul had been part of a band called THE BASICS, playing bass of all things and NOT lead singer as one might suppose . There is one recorded song by THE BASICS, (as part of a sampler) floating around titled PAPER HEART. But Raul is not singing lead. He is doing background harmony.

Raul and Ben Peeler, lead guitar, were the first 2 Mavericks, then Robert brought his best friend, Paul Deakin into the fold and their musical leanings inspired the formation of a country group known as The Mavericks. (This info change from my original text, was obtained thanks to one of the principals involved) The foursome then began playing small clubs in the Miami Beach area where country music was far from the norm. But their onstage energy and musical diversity soon attracted fans from all genres.

Paul married Leanne Purcell on July 21, 1989 and Raul had already met the girl who was going to be his wife, Betty Fernandez. Although 6 years his junior (and one of a set of identical twins), they were in love and destined to marry. Raul's only other sibling is a sister, Carol.

Pooling their resources, and with most of the songs penned by Raul, the Mavericks made a demo that was eventually released on Y and R records, a small independent label.

But, the Mavs reputation was growing and they were invited to showcase in Nashville. MCA leaped to sign them and their first MCA album HELL TO PARADISE was produced.

MCA then sent the Mavs out on the road where they would spend the next 4 years touring and performing; many times in hotels for no pay. Their "Lounge N Around" tour attracted fans but not many financial benefits. The first two singles off their album, HEY GOOD LOOKIN and FROM HELL TO PARADISE, went unnoticed. But stage shows, sometimes lasting over 3 hours, had Raul singing everything from Elvis to Williams to Malo.

Finally it seemed more convenient for the Mavericks to move to Nashville. Raul and Betty planned to marry but Hurricane Andrew disrupted those plans. With the Mavericks on the road, and heading for Illinois, Raul and Betty were married in Chicago in 1992.After the move in 1993, to Nashville. Raul and Betty's families eventually followed.

A 2nd MCA album, produced by Don Cook was titled WHAT A CRYING SHAME. This was the album that would bring them to the attention of the nation. Hits like the title track, as well as I SHOULD HAVE BEEN TRUE, and THERE GOES MY HEART, were all accompanied by videos. Even without the impetus of a runaway hit single, the album went double platinum.

More touring. This time without Ben Peeler or follow-up lead guitarist, David Lee Holt. Robert (who himself had come from a large family of siblings, seven I believe) had met and married country songstress, Trisha Yearwood in 1994 but Paul and Leanne who had a young son Harrison, had divorced.

This time around, guitar duties were being handled by Nick Kane, a veteran of several varied musical groups. His father was an opera singer and Nick had traveled a lot as a very young boy, even spending time in Germany with his parents. Around this time the band also latched on to Jerry Dale McFadden; keyboard extraordinaire whose worship of heroes like Floyd Kramer, was evident in his skilled piano work. Although he isn't officially a Maverick.

State fairs, small clubs, and even theme parks hosted the Mavericks' concerts in 1994-95. In 1994 they were the focus of a DAY ONE story which brought them to the attention of middle America.

Opening for Mary Chapin Carpenter exposed many other fans to their music but unfortunately the Mavs, famous for their 2 hour plus shows, were held to a 50 minutes set, (on a good day) which hampered their creativity and performance. Raul wasn't used to be timed. He often would feed off the energy level of the audience and found it hard to STOP at 50 minutes. But this tour took them into bigger venues and gave them greater exposure.

In November, Raul and Betty welcomed their first son and this impacted Raul greatly, making his focus on music less intense.

By 1996 they felt themselves ready for a tour as Headliners..They couldn't book into the big venues so selected a circuit of old historic theatres, state fairs and the like. Their opening act for the most part was country guitar wizard. Junior Brown. But the Mavs newest album MUSIC FOR ALL OCCASIONS had a lounge feel to it and the two acts musically at least, seemed to clash.

Nick and his long time girlfriend Kimberli were married in Las Vegas, in December 1995 . In attendance were their young son, Oskar, and Nick's teen aged daughters, as well as the other Mavs who drove up on their motorcycles. Raul videotaped it for posterity.

Awards were bestowed left and right in 1995. ACM best new vocal group and vocal group of the year. CMA and Grammys were to follow.

But by the end of 1996, they were road-weary. Raul's temper was flaring more and more. Internal stress was evident to fans and insiders. Raul's wife Betty gave birth on Dino's birthday to their second son, Victor and Raul felt the pull of home life.

As a break from the Mavericks, Raul occasionally did solo shows around Nashville, backed by Dennis Burnside and a band of relatively unknown but skilled musicians, performing songs from artists like Sinatra, Cole Porter, Bobby Darin and the like, eschewing anything Mavericks.

A Hiatus seemed in order. After fulfilling their tour dates for the MFAO TOUR in January 1997, the Mavericks took a break from one another. This allowed Robert and Jerry to explore the possibility of another band, as well as trying their hands at songwriting, one of which was recorded by Hanson. Among Nick's non-Mavericks work was as guitarist for Lucinda Williams gigs. Paul appeared on Bob Woodruff's terrific album DESIRE ROAD (even showing up in the video for one song).

Raul meantime focused on writing songs for the next Mavericks' album and appearing throughout 1997 at Nashville's Ace Of Clubs and then Caffe Milano with Dennis Burnside. And most importantly spending time with his children and wife. He signed to record a solo album in Spanish as well as a pop album both sometime in the near future.

Robert showed up occasionally on wife Trisha's tour and back-packed around Europe.

By August 1997, the Mavericks were back in the studio recording their most diverse album to date; TRAMPOLINE. Recorded LIVE in a studio packed with family and friends, the album called to mind artists like The Beatles, the Byrds, Smoky Robinson and even Rudy Vallee on one fun track or for you youngins out there; Squirrel Nut Zippers.

Apprehension was palpable as the album was released through MCA Nashville. would the public accept it? They decided to tour with a horn section and Dennis Burnside helped Raul with these arrangements.

Tom McGinley, Matt Nygren, Dick Faust, and Scotty Huff, dubbed the Havana Horns, became an integral part of the Mavs 1998 road show. Raul also enlisted a young songwriter-singer Jamie Hanna (son of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's, Jeff Hanna) as another unofficial Maverick . They co-wrote a song for the album and Jamie hit the road with the band.

Opinions varied between Mavs and MCA over which song was to be the first single. The band wanted DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY but MCA won by releasing TO BE WITH YOU.

Fortunately, DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY was the first European release. It skyrocketed to Number one, taking the album along with it. Success in Europe for TRAMPOLINE was unexpected and swift. While the first single barely surfaced on the Billboard top 100 chart in the U.S. and DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY followed suit, sinking into oblivion, in Europe it went double platinum.

Despite rave review for Trampoline , country radio did not embrace the album. "The horns weren't country, (can you pull them)" , "it didn't fill our niche," and other feeble reasons were given by radio programmers for not playing the singles. Ultimately, the U.S. tour focused mainly on the east and west coasts where they played clubs and small venues between successful gigs in England. < br>
Also in 1998, Paul married after a short courtship, a Canadian girl Tracy, who then relocated from Canada to Nashville. And Nick and Kimberli had their second child in the summer .

Flushed with the success overseas, their lukewarm reception in the U.S. was more palatable. Despite the fact they appeared on several US concert shows like Session on PBS and Hard Rock Live on VH-1, their major venue for TRAMPOLINE remained and remains the European market. The Mavericks expect to return in early Spring 1999, adding Australia to their agenda of Europe and Latin America.

Late in 1998, MCA announced the Mavs would no longer be recording for MCA- Nashville. But since they had been initially (and are still under contract to) Universal-MCA, this could possibly work in their favor. Finding the appropriate label within the Universal group to distribute their next albums.

The future for the Mavericks is anyone's guess. One thing is certain, the band has earned a place in country music history , if not for their country-rock sound then surely for their diversity.

(c) 1999 Ellen L. Puerzer

MavFiles Note: I was lucky enough to remember from several years back, that Ellen had written an article for a Milwaukee newspaper about the history of the Mavericks. I asked her and she graciously updated it and let me share it with you. --The MavFiles..

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