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Former Santana vocalist Alex Ligertwood dies at 79
Alex Ligertwood, former Santana lead vocalist, has died at 79. His wife said he died peacefully at home in Santa Monica on April 30. The Scottish singer’s career spanned six decades, with key runs in Santana and collaborations with major rock and soul acts.
Alex Ligertwood, the Scottish singer best known for his years with Santana, has died aged 79.
His wife, Shawn Brogan, confirmed the news in a statement, saying he died at his home in Santa Monica, California, on April 30. “It’s with great sadness and heartache to announce the passing of my sweet dear Alex Ligertwood,” she wrote. “Alex died peacefully in his sleep with his doggy Bobo by his side.”
Brogan added: “Alex was loved by so many. If you knew him, you loved him. He touched so many with his extraordinary voice. He was all heart and soul.”
Ligertwood played his final concert just weeks before his death, closing a career that lasted roughly six decades.
He worked with a broad range of artists, but he is most closely associated with Santana, where he served as lead vocalist from 1979 to 1994. His voice appears across key releases from that period, including Marathon (1979), Zebop! (1981), and Sacred Fire: Live In South America (1993).
He also sang on major Santana tracks from that era, including Winning, Hold On, and You Know That I Love You, as the band moved toward a more AOR-oriented sound.
It is with an incredibly heavy heart that I must share the news that my dear friend and fellow traveller on The Oblivion Express, Alex Ligertwood, has passed away.
The big band in the sky just got infinitely better with Alex’s arrival. pic.twitter.com/FQ0p9lri79
— Brian Auger (@brianaugerb3) May 2, 2026
Born in Glasgow on December 18, 1946, Ligertwood started out in skiffle in the 1950s and later joined The Senate. Before Santana, he also performed with The Jeff Beck Group and Average White Band, building a strong reputation as a session and touring vocalist.
He remained active in later years, continuing to perform live and releasing his solo album Outside The Box in 2019.
Among the tributes was one from Brian Auger, who played with Ligertwood in Oblivion Express in the early 1970s. Writing on X, Auger said: “It is with an incredibly heavy heart that I must share the news that my dear friend and fellow traveller on The Oblivion Express, Alex Ligertwood, has passed away.”
He added: “The big band in the sky just got infinitely better with Alex’s arrival.”
