The Mavericks, October 2017
I was once asked why I call certain musicians “great humans.”
In touring, bands often stay in their own bubble. But every so often, someone opens the door, says hello, and makes a genuine connection.
Raul Malo of The Mavericks was one of those people.
Every time The Mavericks came to Centre In The Square, they’d pop into our office, dropping posters on the desk, handing out T-shirts, leaving funky tour passes behind. Raul and their tour manager paid attention to the people behind the scenes: crews, promoters, photographers, and especially opening acts.
They treated the whole ecosystem with respect.
When we first booked them, their previous Kitchener show had been “the sound of one hand clapping now picture half that sound” kinda vibe.
This time around we sold about 1,600 tickets — a solid night for the band. The next show? Sold out. The one after? Sold out again.
Those shows mattered. You could feel them energize the band. The Mavericks saw the audience growing and the community connecting. In many ways, those Kitchener nights helped reignite their Canadian touring momentum. Soon they were back across the country, from Toronto to Winnipeg, adding intimate theatres and festival stops with renewed excitement.
Raul never forgot where he came from. He often talked about Churchill’s Hideaway, a gritty Miami club where The Mavericks first played. A place known for giving young musicians a shot. That shaped him, and you saw it in the way he supported emerging artists and encouraged genre-blending musicians to be fully themselves.
From younger Americana artists like Maggie Rose and JD McPherson you see how far his influence reached. Mentorship doesn’t always look formal; sometimes it’s generosity, access, kindness, and showing up as your authentic self.
And Raul showed up. Every time.
He toured through cancer treatments until the end. He kept giving to fans, to music, to the people around him.
He made an impression on me in all the best ways.
We lost a giant today not just in music, but in humanity.
Thank you for reminding us that business, culture, and community work best when led with heart.
