 “Raul Malo could sing a tax
form and make an auditor believe every word.”
-- Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Considered to be one of the
finest singers in the world, Raul Malo has
always crossed cultures and blurred musical
boundaries, breaking new ground with his
distinctive balance of vintage sound and
contemporary attitude. Born in Miami of Cuban
parents, he originally made his mark in the
country music world and then drifted into the
Latin and jazz arenas via rock n’ roll. Raul’s
talent has proven over the years to be ever
expanding--as a true fan of all kinds of music,
he sees only a fine line between rock n' roll,
country and salsa rhythms.
Unusually charismatic and
possessing a keen wit, Raul is larger than life.
To hear him perform live is to be in the
presence of greatness. “Force of nature Raul
Malo wraps his husky vocals around everything
like he owns the copyright on heartbreak,” says
Entertainment Weekly. Best known as the founder
and frontman of Grammy-winning, multiplatinum
band The Mavericks, Raul’s talent has proven to
be ever expanding, and in the last couple of
years he has established himself as a solo
artist, as a producer and musical director and
as a member of the super-group Los Super Seven.
Currently Raul is traveling
in the US and the UK making a short series of
very unique solo appearances. Raul performs an
acoustic set of his favorite songs, many of
which will appear on his new solo CD, You’re
Only Lonely, scheduled for release in January of
2006 on Sanctuary Records.
The genesis of Raul’s new
solo CD was in 2003, when the recently reunited
Mavericks were making their return to the London
concert stage. Legendary producer Peter Asher
was in town and, as President of Sanctuary’s
Management Division, came out to see the show.
After the show, an impressed Asher met Raul
backstage and the two soon realized a shared
kinship in their love and appreciation for the
art of great singing. Raul was well aware of
Asher’s career as a producer, having been
greatly influenced by many of Asher’s
productions with Linda Ronstadt and James
Taylor. From this organic conversation grew a
partnership, one that resulted in the recording
of Raul’s solo project, a simple, pure singer’s
record, mostly of cool covers, like many of the
great records of the 1970s.
The record was made over
several months, mostly in Nashville, with Peter
and Raul choosing some of their favorite songs
written by many of the greatest writers ever.
The writers cross all generations and musical
genres. With the exception of the Etta James
classic “At Last,” none of the songs on this
record are considered standards, but they all
have great pedigree. Other songs include:
Willie Nelson: “Angels Flying
Too Close to the Ground"
The Bee Gees: “Run to Me”
Randy Newman: “Feels like Home”
The Everly Brothers: “So Sad”
Ron Sexsmith: “Secret Heart”
Harry Nilsson: “Remember”
Wayne Newton: “Games Lovers Play”
JD Souther: “You’re Only Lonely”
And one Raul original: “For You”
The players on the record are
among the best musicians in Nashville, many of
whom are now on the road with Mark Knopfler. The
strings were arranged by David Campbell, world
renowned for this work with Beck, Mariah Carey,
Celine Dion, Eric Clapton, and Bonnie Raitt,
among others. The CD was mixed by George
Massenberg (Billy Joel, Journey, Carly Simon,
Linda Ronstadt, Lyle Lovett, James Taylor), who
is best known as the inventor of the recording
studio EQ system, and who has worked with Peter
on many of his classic recordings.
You’re Only Lonely is
scheduled for release on Sanctuary Records in
January of 2006.
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