Alex Ligertwood, the Scottish singer best known for his time as a lead vocalist with Santana, has died at the age of 79 after battling health issues in recent years.
Ligertwood passed away peacefully on April 30, according to reports, closing the chapter on a career that helped define some of the band’s biggest hits.
During his years performing with Carlos Santana’s iconic group, Ligertwood delivered powerful vocals on songs like “Winning,” “Hold On,” “You Know That I Love You,” and “All I Ever Wanted.” He appeared with the band across multiple eras between 1979 and 1994, becoming one of its most recognizable voices.
His wife of 25 years, Shaun Brogan, shared an emotional tribute, revealing that he passed away peacefully in his sleep with his beloved dog by his side.
“Alex was loved by so many. If you knew him, you loved him,” she wrote. “He touched so many with his extraordinary voice. He was all heart and soul.”
She also shared that Ligertwood performed his final show just two weeks before his passing.
“He did it his way, on his terms, till the end,” she added.
Beyond performing, Ligertwood also helped shape Santana’s sound behind the scenes, co-writing several songs including “Brightest Star,” “Make Somebody Happy,” and “Somewhere in Heaven.”
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Ligertwood’s love for music began at a young age during the skiffle era. Over the years, he built an impressive career performing with major acts, including the Jeff Beck Group and Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express.
Fellow musicians paid tribute following the news, with Brian Auger writing that “the big band in the sky just got infinitely better.”