Alex Ligertwood, the powerful-voiced frontman who shaped Santana’s musical identity throughout much of the 1980s and early 1990s, died on May 1, 2026. His wife and representative, Shawn Brogan, announced his death. The vocalist, born in Scotland, was 79 years old and died quietly at his home in Santa Monica.
Brogan shared the announcement via a Facebook post on May 2, noting that Ligertwood “passed peacefully in his sleep with his doggy Bobo by his side yesterday.” She asked for prayers for herself and their children — daughters Merci and Kali, and son Brandon. In a fuller statement, Brogan added, “He touched so many with his extraordinary voice. He was all heart and soul. His favorite thing in life was to make music, sing and to share his gift with us. He performed his last show just two weeks ago. I’m grateful for that. He did it his way, on his terms, till the end.” The cause of death was not disclosed.
“It’s with great sadness and heartache to announce the passing of my sweet, dear Alex Ligertwood, my husband of 25 years. We knew each other for 36 years,” Brogan wrote.
The Santana Years
Ligertwood’s career is chiefly remembered for his tenure with Santana, where he served as lead vocalist across five separate stints from 1979 to 1994, making him the band’s longest-serving lead vocalist in the post-Woodstock era. His work featured vocals on well-known songs such as “You Know That I Love You,” “Winning,” “All I Ever Wanted,” and “Hold On,” plus songwriting contributions on pieces like “Somewhere in Heaven” and “Make Somebody Happy.”
The vocalist from Glasgow’s voice appears on numerous Santana albums, including “Marathon” (1979), “Zebop!” (1981), “Shango” (1982), and “Sacred Fire: Live in South America” (1993), where he performed with Jorge Santana, Carlos Santana’s sibling, in what many regard as quintessential live renditions.
On July 13, 1985, Ligertwood led Santana at Live Aid, performing in front of roughly 1.9 billion people across the globe in his most prominently viewed performance.
A Voice Forged In Glasgow
Before gaining prominence through Santana, Ligertwood built a reputation as a skilled vocalist with a technically proficient, emotionally resonant approach perfect for both jazz-rock fusion and rock anthems. In the early 1970s, he performed alongside guitarist Jeff Beck in the Jeff Beck Group, subsequently collaborating with organist Brian Auger — a former associate of guitarist Rod Stewart and guitarist Jimi Hendrix — in Oblivion Express.
His work history also featured performances with French band Troc during the early 1970s, the Average White Band, American rock ensemble the Dregs in the 1980s, and Go Ahead, a Grateful Dead-influenced project, in the mid-to-late 1980s. In 2019, he released a solo album, Outside the Box, demonstrating his continued creative output well into his later years.
Working Until The End
The vocalist maintained an active schedule through his final days, performing with Icons of Classic Rock, a touring venture alongside guitarist Brandon Paul that featured selections from his prolific career. Based on statements from his daughter, Merci, Ligertwood continued performing concerts until his passing, fulfilling his personal wishes.
“My dad loved many things,” Merci said. “At the forefront were his family & friends, music, and Scotland. He continued doing shows up until the very end, just the way he wanted.”
Paul expressed admiration for his collaborator, describing him as “a world-class professional” whose vocals were “a force of nature — soulful, from the heart, and legendary every single night.” He further stated that “having a vocalist who worked with icons like Carlos Santana and Jeff Beck, complements my guitar playing, is something I will carry with me forever.”
Tributes Pour In
Brogan’s Facebook announcement, featuring images of the vocalist, generated widespread expressions of sympathy from admirers and musical colleagues who regarded Ligertwood as kind, committed, and wholly invested in his musical craft.
Carlos Santana later paid tribute to his longtime vocalist. “Alex fit right in,” Santana wrote. “He became the voice of Santana on many of our albums and on most of our tours in the ’80s and into the ’90s. He can make you feel God in his singing — as he did when he sang ‘Somewhere in Heaven’ on the Milagro album in ’92. You believe him.” Ligertwood is survived by his wife, three children, and a substantial discography, from Marathon to Sacred Fire, that displayed a vocalist who engaged fully with every performance rather than simply delivering it.