Fusing traditional country with traditional rock & roll, the Mavericks became one of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful groups of the early ’90s. The group was formed when lead singer/songwriter Raul Malo met bassist Robert Reynolds in high school, where they both shared the same music interests. Reynolds persuaded his best friend, Paul Deakin, who had been a drummer in progressive rock bands before and had done some session work, to join the fledgling country band.

Taking the name the Mavericks, the band began playing rock clubs around the Miami area and built up a solid local following. In the fall of 1990, the band released an eponymous independent album. The record worked its way onto play lists across Florida and made its way to Nashville, where it gained the attention of nearly every major record label.

In May of 1991, the group went to Nashville to play a showcase gig and ended up signing with MCA Records. Later that year, the Mavericks set about recording their first major-label album; before the sessions began, they added lead guitarist David Lee Holt, who had previously played with Joe Ely, Rosie Flores, and Carlene Carter. Titled “From Hell to Paradise,” the record primarily consisted of Malo’s original songs and was released in 1992. Although it was critically acclaimed, the album wasn’t a commercial success; only a cover of Hank Williams’ standard “Hey Good Lookin'” made the charts and that peaked at number 74.

The Mavericks’ commercial fortunes turned around with their second major-label album, “What a Crying Shame.” Produced by Don Cook (Brooks & Dunn, Mark Collie), the album was more streamlined and focused. It became a hit upon its release early in 1994, with the title track becoming a Top 40 hit. Shortly after the release of “What a Crying Shame,” the group replaced Holt with Nick Kane (born Nicholas James Kane, August 21, 1954, Jerusalem, GA).

Throughout 1994, the band racked up Top 40 hit singles. “O What a Thrill” went to number 18 in the summer, with “There Goes My Heart” reaching number 20 in the fall. By the spring of 1995, “What a Crying Shame” had gone platinum. During the first half of 1995, the Mavericks recorded their fourth album, “Music for All Occasions,” which appeared in the fall of the year. Like its predecessor, it was critically acclaimed and a commercial success. By the spring of 1996, the album had gone gold.”Trampoline” followed in 1998; easily the group’s most musically ambitious set to date, Trampoline’s blend of pop and Latin textures proved to be a major success in the United Kingdom. The Mavericks soon found themselves at loggerheads with their record company, and they parted ways with MCA. The group went on hiatus for several years, with Malo releasing a solo album in 2001 and recording with the Latino super group Los Super Seven, while Robert Reynolds played on sessions with the group Swag. In 2003, the group re-assembled with guitarist Eddie Perez replacing Nick Kane, and recorded a self-titled set for Sanctuary Records. The album failed to chart, and the band split up shortly thereafter. Sanctuary cashed in with a live album and DVD, recorded in Austin, TX on the album’s promotional tour, and released in the fall of 2004.

The members went their own way, most of them continuing to perform in various music projects. Raul Malo continued his successful solo career, recording five more albums. The Mavericks eventually reunited in 2011, charting with the digital EP “Suited Up and Ready” and the single “Born To Be Blue”. Their seventh full-length studio album, “In Time,” followed in February 2013 via Valory Music.