Alex Ligertwood, the vocalist who helped propel Latin rock legends Santana through their peak years, died at 79.
Page Six reported on May 3 that Ligertwood’s wife, Shawn Brogan, said on Facebook last Saturday that he died peacefully in his sleep with the family dog, Bobo, at his side.
Brogan posted photos of him and wrote, “Alex was loved by many, and anyone who knew him couldn’t help but love him. He soothed many hearts with his extraordinary voice and sang from his heart and soul.”
Ligertwood lived in Santa Monica, California, and had been battling health problems up until his death.
Brogan recalled that Ligertwood’s favorite thing was making music, singing and sharing his talent. She said he had played his final show just weeks earlier and expressed gratitude that he was able to keep working on his own terms until the end. “I will love my Alex forever,” she wrote, adding, “please pray for me and the children.”
Born in Scotland, Ligertwood was drawn to music as a child and first picked up a guitar in the 1950s.
He joined the band Santana, formed by guitarist Carlos Santana in 1966, in 1979 and served as lead vocalist through 1994, helping drive the band’s golden era. He contributed to landmark albums including Marathon (1979), Zebop! (1981) and Sacred Fire: Live in South America (1993), leaving behind a distinctive vocal tone.
His voice is featured on many of Santana’s signature tracks, including the 1979 single “You Know That I Love You,” 1981’s “Winning” and 1982’s “Hold On.”
The tribute band The Magic of Santana said on social media they were “deeply saddened” by his passing. “We learned so much about music, passion and friendship from him,” they wrote, calling him “one of the finest singers on the planet.” Beyond Santana, Ligertwood collaborated with the Jeff Beck Group and the Average White Band, among others, leaving a lasting mark on popular music.
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