Iconic Santana Vocalist Dead at 79
Alex Ligertwood, the vocalist known for his work with Santana, has died at the age of 79.
News of his passing was shared by his wife, Shaun Brogan, on the Brogan Agency's Facebook page Sunday, May 3. She revealed that the singer died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Santa Monica-just weeks after taking the stage for what would be his final performance.
"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 started her post. "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."
Ligertwood's connection to Santana stretched across more than a decade, with the vocalist stepping in and out of the lineup between 1979 and 1994 alongside frontman Carlos Santana. During that time, he helped shape the band's sound on projects like Marathon, Zebop!, and Shango, while also contributing to live shows.
And beyond Santana, Ligertwood remained deeply respected in the music world. Guitarist Brandon Paul, who shared the stage with him in recent years, called him "a world-class professional" in a statement to TMZ. "His voice was a force of nature-soulful, from the heart, and legendary every single night. Beyond the music, he was an amazing human being and a dear friend."
At this time, it's unclear Ligertwood's cause of death. His team has not responded to Parade's request for comment at this time.
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This story was originally published May 3, 2026 at 1:15 PM.