A Floridian of Cuban descent, Raul Malo started playing bass guitar while in high school and was a member of a small band playing the high school dance circuit. That band was known alternately as The Boys, The Tom Boys, and The Basics with Malo sharing vocal duties with guitarist, Tommy Anthony. In 1990, he became the vocalist for the four-man band, The Mavericks, for whom he penned most of the songs. In the vein of his singing idol Roy Orbison, Malo's soaring tenor voice helped the band create a unique blend of traditional Country music and 1950's Rock 'n' Roll. Evolving to an eclectic blend of Latin rhythms, classic country, jazz, pop and western swing, the Mavericks became one of the top American bands of the 1990s. They were voted by the Academy of Country Music, "Top Vocal Group and "Top New Vocal Group" in 1994. They were voted "Vocal Group of the Year" by the Country Music Association in 1995. On the same year, they won a Grammy for "Best Country Performance by a Group or Duo" for the song "Here Comes the Rain" from the album "Music For All Occasions".In 1996, they won again "Vocal Group of the Year" by the Country Music Association. . And on the same year, in London, England, they were awarded " Best Live Performance By a Group", " Best Vocal Performance by an Artist"," Best Vocal Group of the Year" and " Best International Touring Artist of the Year" by CMA- Europe. In Ireland, 1996, they won " Best Group of the Year" by the Irish Country Music Association.