Raul Malo, the lead singer and songwriter of the Latin-country band, The Mavericks, died yesterday of colon cancer at the age of 60.

This is very sad news for anyone who loved the fusion of country, Latin, and rock music that The Mavericks were famous for, and also for those of us who fell in love with Raul’s strong, clear, and expressive voice.

Ray and I are among those people, and we were lucky enough to see The Mavericks perform at the Greek Theater just last year. They were better than I could have imagined—full of energy and musical virtuosity that comes from years of playing music together. We left bigger fans than ever, and today, we were both emotional when we read the news that Raul had succumbed to colon cancer only one year after his diagnosis.

Some people are born to sing, and Raul was one of them. He shared his God-given gifts with the world in a way that spread joy and also helped all of us access emotions that we usually prefer to bury. His rich tenor voice rang out strong and pure on songs ranging from Americana, roots, Latin, Tejano, and swing, and his award-winning career spanned three decades. He was a bigger-than-life figure who used music as a vehicle to touch people around the world, Ray and me included. We were lucky to have him among us in this life.

May light perpetual shine upon you, Raul. Wishing you a joyful time as you transition to your new home, which I am certain is already benefiting from your soulful voice.

Thank you for making the world better for all of us.