Scottish musician Alex Ligertwood, best known as the lead vocalist for the Latin rock band Santana, has died at the age of 79. His wife, Shawn Brogan, announced the news on Facebook, stating that he passed peacefully in his sleep with his dog by his side.
Brogan wrote: 'It’s with great sadness and heartache to announce the passing of my sweet dear Alex Ligertwood, my husband of 25 years. He touched so many with his extraordinary voice. He was all heart and soul.' She added that his favourite thing in life was to make music and that he performed his last show just two weeks ago.
Ligertwood was born in Drumchapel, Glasgow, and took up guitar in the 1950s. He served as Santana's lead vocalist on and off between 1979 and 1994, contributing to albums such as Marathon (1979), Zebop! (1981) and Sacred Fire: Live In South America (1993).
He also performed with the Jeff Beck Group, the Average White Band, and the German tribute band The Magic Of Santana. The tribute band paid tribute on social media, saying: 'We are so sad! He was one of the best singers on this planet and we will deeply miss him.'
Ligertwood is understood to have been living in Santa Monica, California, at the time of his death.
