[6] He began playing piano at age 9[3][7][8] and, as a teenager, studied with Ashley Miller, best known for his recordings as the house organist at Radio City Music Hall.

[15] Starting with a 1987 debut show at The Channel in Boston, the band developed a following in the city's rock scene and toured the New England rock-club circuit.

[17] Songs from the CD won the KISS 108 FM Local Music Spotlight twice and received airplay on Boston rock station WBCN.

[6] One of the band's final shows before breaking up was a benefit concert in 1990 to raise money for the installation of a recording studio at Malone's alma mater, Jefferson Township High School in New Jersey.

[25][31][32] The two performed live together numerous times, including on the Rockpile on the Road tour with legendary beat poet David Meltzer.

[28][36][37] The album, which was recorded live in one day[38] with his band at 3rd Encore Studios in Los Angeles, received positive reviews and placement in several critics’ top-10 lists.

[12][7] After the release of The Darkest Part Of The Night, Malone began to tour as a solo performer, first as an opening act and later as a headliner.

[7][29][8][46] Malone's fifth album, Born Too Late, was released in December 2005, and featured Blues Music Awards winners Paul Rishell and Annie Raines.

[49][50] His 2009 album, Ain’t What You Know, was his first to use prominent Los Angeles session musicians, including drummer Mike Baird and bassist Leland Sklar.

[51][52][53] Malone played piano on Jonny Blu albums In Just That Kind of a Mood and In a Groove, and was pianist and arranger on Taboo!, produced by Peermusic.

American Songwriter called it "a new masterpiece"[64] while the Myrtle Beach Sun News named it the best blues album of the year.

[70] Malone's recording activity since 2011 has included keyboard work on John Fogerty's Wrote a Song for Everyone,[71] Ringo Starr's Give More Love,[57][72] the Netflix series Lucifer,[73] and Avril Lavigne and Jonny Blu's recording of "Baby, It’s Cold Outside" for the soundtrack of the Hallmark Channel movie Switched for Christmas, on which he played piano and wrote the orchestra and big band arrangement.

"[78] In its review of the album, American Songwriter said: "From complex turbo-charged polyrhythmic soul-jazz excursions to the most fundamental folk-rock anthems, Malone knows how to light it on fire.

"[72] On June 1, 2003, Malone married singer-songwriter-turned-L.A. County deputy public defender Karen Nash,[7][21][81][8] who also performs background vocals on some of his songs.