Born on December 18, 1949, in Glasgow, Scotland, Alex Ligertwood, the singer whose voice powered a key era of Santana, died on May 2, 2026. He was 73.
Best known for his work with Carlos Santana’s band during the late ’70s and ’80s, Ligertwood brought a soulful, commanding presence to a period when Santana fused Latin rock with a more polished, radio-ready sound. His vocals are front and center on hits like “Winning” and “Hold On,” songs that helped carry the band back onto mainstream charts and into a new generation of listeners.
Ligertwood began his career in the British rock circuit, fronting bands including Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express, where his powerful voice and blues instincts first gained wider attention. By the time he joined Santana in 1979, he had already built a reputation as a versatile performer capable of bridging rock, funk, and soul.
Ligertwood remained with Santana through much of the 1980s, appearing on albums such as Marathon, Zebop! and Shango. His tenure coincided with one of the band’s most commercially successful stretches, anchored by tight songwriting and a sound that balanced Santana’s signature guitar work with strong melodic hooks.
Beyond Santana, Ligertwood’s career reflected a deep commitment to craft over flash. He collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart, and remained active in music well into later years, often revisiting the songs that defined his career while continuing to explore new material.
Alex Ligertwood leaves behind a body of work that speaks clearly: a singer who knew how to serve the song, and in doing so, helped shape one of rock’s most enduring catalogs.
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