Mavericks Band Member and Friend Assaulted Over Weekend

Two men who are suspected in assaulting Mavericks band member Lorenzo Molina Ruiz and his friend, musician Orlando Morales, at Tony’s Eat & Drink sports bar in Franklin, Tennessee on Saturday (October 3), voluntarily came in to talk to Franklin police on Tuesday (October 6).  The men were interviewed by police and provided information about the incident. Information has been turned over to the District Attorney’s Office, which will help determine applicable charges.

Betty Malo, who is married to the lead singer of the Mavericks, Raol Malo, posted on Instagram that Ruiz, trumpet player for the Mavericks, and Morales were accosted at the restaurant because they were talking in Spanish to each other. In her Instagram message she said, “Late Saturday night/Sunday morning @molinalorenzo and his friend were jumped and brutally beaten while waiting in line to use the bathroom. Their friends who were waiting at the table were approached by 2 men and said ‘Speak Fucking English. You’re in America.’”

Ruiz, who is from Cuba and joined the Mavericks Fantastic Five backing group in 2017, is in good condition, according to Mrs. Malo, but Morales has a broken nose, orbital bones, internal bleeding and a concussion. He was taken to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville for treatment. The hospital reported the alleged incident to Franklin police.

Franklin Police Department public information officer Lt. Charles Warner said, “The case is currently classified as an aggravated assault, which is a felony. It has been assigned to a detective and an investigation is under way.”

According to a posting on social media, the Franklin bar where the alleged attack happened, is cooperating with the investigation.

“We would like to send our deepest condolences to the individuals affected by the altercation that occurred,” management wrote. “We want to be clear that we do not support racism or condone hate crimes at our establishment and are taking this matter seriously. We do not nor have we ever allowed for violence to perpetuate for any reason and in this specific instance, our security staff acted quickly and reasonably to bring the altercation to an end.”

“It saddens us to no end to learn of the assault on our band mate Lorenzo Molina, and his friend & fellow musician Orlando Morales, reportedly for speaking Spanish amongst themselves in a public establishment,” Malo wrote on behalf of The Mavericks on the group’s Facebook page. “For this assault to occur as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with our own performance (featuring Lorenzo) tonight (October 6) on the Hispanic Heritage Awards, shows that although we’ve come a long way, we still have a long way to go. America is better than this.”

The band performed a pre-taped tribute to Linda Ronstadt at the Awards, which aired on PBS.  

The Mavericks became a mainstay in country music soon after they formed the group in Miami in 1989. In 1995 their song “Here Comes The Rain” received a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group.  One of their best-known hits is the 1996 song, “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down.”

The Mavericks released their first Spanish/Latin album, En Español, on August 21. It went to number one on Billboard’s Latin Pop Chart. It is the first album in the trade magazine’s history to debut in the top 10 on both the Latin and Americana charts. The album was produced by Malo and Niko Bolas, who have previously collaborated on music projects. The album includes songs of original material as well as classic tunes.

The group, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2019, is comprised of Malo and founding member Paul Deakin along with Eddie Perez and Jerry Dale McFadden. The Fantastic Five, who appear with The Mavericks for concert appearances, were also on the album. In addition to these musicians, others participating in the project were Grammy-winning keyboardist and arranger Alberto Salas and Tejano accordion legend Flaco Jiménez. 

Malo told NPR that this is a dream project for him, indicating that the project’s significance is not only personal but political as well during the current trend of immigrants whose first language is not necessarily English facing increased scrutiny in the U.S.

“In our own little way, if we could get somebody that perhaps is on the fence on issues and hears us singing in Spanish and perhaps reminds them of the beautiful cultures that make up what this country is trying to be and what it should be, so be it,” Malo says. “Yeah, I’m OK with that.”

Malo noted in a press release about the album’s release, “This is the record I’ve been wanting the Mavericks to make for a very long time. I’m a first-generation Cuban American, and some of these songs are songs my family would play and sing on weekends at family parties and get-togethers. But it’s not all nostalgia either. There are plenty of new original songs that put this record squarely in the moment for us.”

En Español Track List:
1. La Sitiera
2. Recuerdos
3. No Vale la Pena
4. Poder Vivir
5. Sombras Nada Más
6. Mujer
7. Me Olvidé de Vivir
8. Pensando en Ti
9. Sabor a Mí
10. Suspiro Azul
11. Cuando me Enamoro
12. Me Voy a Pinar del Río