Alex Ligertwood, the Scottish vocalist whose commanding voice was central to Santana’s identity throughout much of the 1980s and 1990s, passed away on Saturday. His wife and representative, Shawn Brogan, made the announcement public. The 79-year-old singer died quietly at his residence in Santa Monica on April 30, 2026.
Brogan shared the news via a Facebook post on Saturday night, stating that Ligertwood “passed peacefully in his sleep with his doggy Bobo by his side yesterday.” She asked for support and prayers for herself and their three children — daughters Merci and Kali, and son Brandon. The Brogan Agency confirmed the death the following day, mentioning that the singer had performed live just weeks before his death. The specific cause 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 shared.
The Santana Years
Ligertwood’s primary legacy comes from his tenure with Santana, during which he was the lead vocalist across five different stints between 1979 and 1994, making him the group’s longest-serving frontman since the post-Woodstock period. His work included vocals on popular songs such as “You Know That I Love You,” “Winning,” “All I Ever Wanted,” and “Hold On,” as well as songwriting contributions on pieces like “Somewhere in Heaven” and “Make Somebody Happy.”
The musician, originally from Glasgow, lent his voice to multiple Santana albums, such as “Marathon” (1979), “Zebop!” (1981), “Shango” (1982), and the 1993 live recording “Sacred Fire: Live in South America,” where he performed with Jorge Santana, Carlos’s sibling, delivering what many regard as some of the band’s finest live moments.
On July 13, 1985, Ligertwood led Santana at Live Aid, performing in front of roughly 1.9 billion audience members across the globe in what proved to be his most widely viewed performance.
A Voice Forged In Glasgow
Prior to his success with Santana, Ligertwood built a reputation as an adaptable vocalist with a technically sophisticated, emotional approach that worked equally well in jazz-rock fusion and large-scale rock productions. In the early 1970s, he collaborated with the Jeff Beck Group under the legendary guitarist, and later teamed up with organist Brian Auger — known for his work with Rod Stewart and Jimi Hendrix — in the band Oblivion Express.
His career also encompassed performances with French ensemble Troc during the early 1970s, American rock group the Dregs in the 1980s, and Go Ahead, a project inspired by the Grateful Dead, in the mid-to-late 1980s.
Working Until The End
Ligertwood continued performing in his final months, working with Icons of Classic Rock, a concert series featuring guitarist Brandon Paul that celebrated his extensive musical history. According to his daughter Merci, Ligertwood kept performing concerts right until his passing, precisely as he preferred.
“My dad loved many things,” Merci shared. “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 his admiration for his collaborator, describing him as “a world-class professional” whose singing was “a force of nature — soulful, from the heart, and legendary every single night.” He further noted that working with “a vocalist who performed with legends like Carlos Santana and Jeff Beck supporting my guitar work is an experience I will treasure forever.”
Tributes Pour In
Brogan’s Facebook message, which featured images of the performer, sparked numerous expressions of sympathy from admirers and musical peers who valued Ligertwood for his warmth, commitment, and genuine love of music.
Santana’s representatives had not released a formal response as of Monday, May 4. Ligertwood is survived by his spouse, three offspring, and a substantial discography — ranging from Marathon to Sacred Fire — that displayed an artist who fully committed to every show rather than simply going through the motions.