Fans of legendary Latin rock band Santana are in mourning as former lead vocalist Alex Ligertwood has passed away. Notably, he served as the band’s lead vocalist during five iconic periods of its existence, beginning in 1979. His work is included on albums such as “Marathon,” “Zebop!,” and “Shango.” Now, tributes are pouring in.
According to TMZ, Ligertwood’s daughter, Merci, confirmed the news of his passing on May 2. Specifically, he passed away on April 30 in his sleep after years of health issues. She said in a statement that he “passed peacefully in his sleep with his doggy Bobo by his side.” It was also confirmed that he was living at his Santa Monica home at the time.
Brandon Paul, a collaborator of Ligertwood, also released a statement. He said, “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.”
The guitarist then said, “Having a vocalist who worked with icons like Carlos Santana and Jeff Beck compliment my guitar playing, is something I will carry with me forever.”
Tributes Are Pouring In
Ligertwood is a respected musician and vocalist thanks to his contributions to Santana and his work outside the group. Because of this, tributes are pouring in, both from fans and industry friends.
One of Ligertwood’s friends and collaborators offered kind words on X. He wrote, “It is with an incredibly heavy heart that I must share the news that my dear friend and fellow traveler on The Oblivion Express, Alex Ligertwood, has passed away. The big band in the sky just got infinitely better with Alex’s arrival.”
Someone else said, “So sorry to hear of the passing of Alex Lingertwood. True Stories was one of my favourite albums growing up & his vocals on that album are immense. RIP Alex.”
Another fan wrote, “I’ve always loved the Santana era with Alex Ligertwood. Another talent fades away…”
A different social media user offered a heartfelt tribute. They wrote, “Alex Ligertwood, the man with the vocal range of a Moog synth, teller of incredibly risqué jokes, very proud Glaswegian, vocalist for The Senate, The Jeff Beck Group, Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express, and Santana, excellent wearer of hats, aka Wee Eck has checked out. What a life.”
Alex Ligertwood Leaves Behind a Vast Legacy Even Beyond Santana
According to The Scotland Herald, Ligertwood got his start in music in the 1950s by playing guitar. During this time, he even lent his talent to school choirs and a local Boys’ Brigade pipe band. After a while, he formed a group called the Meridians before moving on to the Senate, which was a Scottish soul band.
Notably, Ligertwood completed a residency in Rome with the Senate. Ultimately, this milestone led him to become the lead singer for Santana, a role he held for about 15 years. That’s not all, Ligertwood also performed with Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express.
Per reports, Ligertwood performed his final concert in the weeks leading up to his passing.
