Santana Lead Vocalist Alex Ligertwood Dies at 79

The musician who provided lead vocals for Santana has died at his Santa Monica home, at the age of 79, it was reported Sunday. “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,” his wife and manager, Shawn Brogan, said in a Facebook post. “Alex passed peacefully in his sleep with his doggy, Bobo, by his side yesterday.” Born in Glasgow, Scotland, on Dec. 18, 1946, Ligertwood was Santana’s lead vocalist between 1979 and 1994, according to the Los Angeles Times. “Alex was loved by so many,” Brogan said. “If you knew him, you loved him. 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. He performed his last show just two weeks ago. I`m grateful for that. He did it his way, on his terms, till the end.” Ligertwood’s cause of death was not immediately released. He was featured on the tracks “You Know That I Love You,” “Winning,” “Hold On” and “All I Ever Wanted.” He was part of the Jeff Beck Group and played jazz rock in Brian Auger’s band Oblivion Express.