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Former Santana vocalist Alex Ligertwood dies at 79
Alex Ligertwood, former Santana lead vocalist and the voice behind tracks like “Winning” and “Hold On,” has died at 79. His wife confirmed he passed away peacefully at home in Santa Monica on April 30.
Alex Ligertwood, the Scottish singer most closely associated with Santana’s late-’70s and ’80s run, has died at 79.
His wife, Shawn Brogan, confirmed the news in a statement, saying Ligertwood 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 show only weeks ago, closing out a six-decade career onstage.
While he worked with a long list of artists, he remains best known as Santana’s lead vocalist from 1979 to 1994. His voice became a defining part of that era, appearing on albums including Marathon (1979), Zebop! (1981), and Sacred Fire: Live In South America (1993).
He sang on fan favorites like Winning, Hold On, and You Know That I Love You, helping shape the band’s shift toward a more AOR-driven sound in that period.
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 worked with The Jeff Beck Group and Average White Band, building a strong reputation as a powerhouse vocalist.
He stayed active in recent years, continuing to tour and releasing the solo album Outside The Box in 2019.
Among the musicians paying tribute was Brian Auger, who played with Ligertwood in Oblivion Express in the early ’70s. 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.”
