The Mavericks

The Mavericks are an eclectic American band, combining Tex-Mex, neotraditional country music, Latin, and rockabilly influences. The Mavericks were founded in 1989 in Miami, Florida. Between 1991 and 2003, the band recorded six studio albums, in addition to charting 14 singles on the Billboard country charts. Their highest-peaking American single was 1996's "All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down", a collaboration with accordionist Flaco Jiménez. They are best known in the UK for their 1998 single "Dance the Night Away", which spent 18 weeks on the chart, peaking at number 4. In 1996, The Mavericks won a Grammy Award for the song "Here Comes the Rain".

The band split up in 2004, and lead singer Raul Malo released six solo albums. Bass player Robert Reynolds and keyboardist Jerry Dale McFadden co-founded the 'supergroup' SWAG, along with Ken Coomer of Wilco, Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick, and Doug Powell. In 2012, the band announced plans for several reunion festival dates. Shortly after, they were offered a record deal by Big Machine Records. Their reunion album In Time, was released in February 2013, and another album, Mono, on 17 February 2015.

Career
The Mavericks began their career within the punk and alternative music scene in Miami, Florida, frequently playing on the same bill as emerging acts including Marilyn Manson. The band initially consisted of singer Raul Malo, guitarist Ben Peeler, bassist Robert Reynolds; and drummer Paul Deakin. This line-up issued an independent self-titled LP before Peeler was replaced by David Lee Holt.

In 1991, the band was signed by MCA Nashville, and their first major label release, From Hell to Paradise, debuted in 1992. Holt subsequently left the band, and The Mavericks recorded their follow-up What a Crying Shame as a trio, augmented by session musicians. Nick Kane (lead guitar) appears as the group's fourth member on the album cover, and is credited as a full member of the band in the liner notes, but joined The Mavericks after the album was recorded and does not play on this record.

What A Crying Shame produced four top 40 country hits: the title track, "O What a Thrill", "There Goes My Heart" and "I Should Have Been True". A fifth single, a cover of Bruce Springsteen's "All That Heaven Will Allow", peaked at number 49.

in February 1994, piano player Jerry Dale McFadden joined the band as an auxiliary player and "fifth Maverick", though he was not at this point an official full member. He would contribute to all live shows and studio recordings from this point forward, beginning with 1995's Music for All Occasions. This album included the single "Here Comes the Rain", which won the band a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal the following year. Its follow-up was "All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down", their highest country chart peak at number 13.

During 1996 and 1997, the band embarked on the "Tour for All Occasions" and released a live album, ''It's Now! It's Live!''.

Their 1998 album Trampoline produced a number 4 UK hit in "Dance the Night Away" - remaining on the UK charts for over ten weeks and becoming one of the most recognizable songs for the Mavericks in the UK. "I've Got This Feeling" and "Someone Should Tell Her" also made the UK charts. However, the album was not anywhere near as successful in the US, charting much lower than previous Mavericks album releases and failing to spin off any top 40 country singles.

In 1999, the band issued a "best-of" album featuring three new tracks, called Super Colossal Smash Hits of the 90s: The Best of The Mavericks. The album was quickly reissued the following year with two additional new tracks. However, the release did not spin off any top 40 hit singles in either the US or the UK, and the band found itself in a financially precarious situation. In February 2000 the band suspended payments to all their salaried employees, and in May they fired guitarist Nick Kane. Malo embarked on a solo career at this time, and the group effectively dissolved for the next few years.

In 2003, the Mavericks were revived, with Eddie Perez added to the line-up in Kane's place. The band recorded a new album The Mavericks, but split up again shortly after the 2004 tour ended.

Reunion
In October 2011, The Mavericks announced plans to reunite for a tour in 2012.

In February 2012, the group signed with Valory Music Co., an imprint of Big Machine Records. They released a digital extended play titled Suited Up and Ready, and charted in early 2012 with "Born to Be Blue". The full-length album, In Time, was released on Valory Records on 26 February 2013.

Founding member Robert Reynolds was dismissed from the band in October 2014 after it was revealed that he had developed an addiction to opiates and was soliciting money from fans (under false pretences) to support his addiction, leaving Malo and Deakin as the two remaining original members. This revelation was not made public until December.

Reynolds has not been replaced by a permanent band member. As Reynolds' addiction affected his playing, both before Reynolds's firing and after, session players played bass on Mavericks recordings and at live shows (where in recent years Reynolds played a "barely audible" acoustic guitar that was deliberately buried in the sound mix). In his absence, Ed Friedland is the band's touring bassist.

The Mavericks released a new album, Mono, on 17 February 2015. In June 2016 they parted ways with Valory.

The group released their ninth studio album Brand New Day on 31 March 2017.

Members
Current members
 * Raul Malo – vocals, guitars (1989–2004, 2012–present)
 * Paul Deakin – drums (1989–2004, 2012–present)
 * Jerry Dale McFadden – keyboards, vocals (touring 1994–2004; 2012–present)
 * Eddie Perez – guitars (2003-2004, 2012–present)

Past members
 * Robert Reynolds – bass guitar (1989–2004, 2012–2014)
 * Ben Peeler – guitars (1989–1991)
 * David Lee Holt – guitars (1991–1993)
 * Nick Kane – guitars (1993–2000)

Academy of Country Music Awards
1994 1995
 * Top New Vocal Group
 * Top Vocal Group
 * Top Vocal Group

Country Music Association Awards
1995 1996
 * Vocal Group of the Year
 * Vocal Group of the Year

Grammy Awards
1995
 * Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal

Americana Music Association Honors & Awards
2015
 * Best Duo or Group of the Year

Official videography
Officially released films featuring the Mavericks are listed with their original release dates.
 * 2014 The Mavericks: In Time Live (DVD - Valory Music Co.)
 * 2004 The Mavericks: Live in Austin Texas, directed by Michael Drumm (DVD - Sanctuary Records Group)
 * 2004 The Best of the Mavericks: The DVD Collection (DVD - MCA Nashville)
 * 1999 The Mavericks LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL SEPT 1998 (DVD - Cherry Red Films)

Other sources

 * Hingston, Michael (2005). "The Mavericks" in the liner notes for The Mavericks Collection. McErlain, Lisa et al., Project Coordinators. Universal / Spectrum Music.