Former Santana vocalist Alex Ligertwood has died at the age of 79.
The Latin rock band crooner “passed peacefully in his sleep with his doggy Bobo by his side,” his wife, Shawn Brogan, announced via Facebook on Saturday.
“Alex was loved by so many,” she wrote alongside photos of the musician. “If you knew him, you loved him. He touched so many with his extraordinary voice. He was all heart and soul.”
Former Santana vocalist Alex Ligertwood has died. He was 79. Getty Images
The hitmaker (seen here performing in 2016) “passed peacefully in his sleep with his doggy Bobo by his side,” his wife, Shawn Brogan, announced via Facebook on Saturday. Photographed: Robert Randolph, Albert Lee, Kenneth Brian, Steve Ferrone and Ligertwood. Getty Images
Brogan shared that Ligertwood’s “favorite thing in life was to make music, sing and to share his gift.”
The matriarch reflected on Ligertwood performing his last show a few weeks ago, adding, “I’m grateful for that. He did it his way, on his terms, till the end.”
She concluded the heartbreaking statement, “I will always love you, my sweet Alex,” and asked fans to keep herself and her kids in their prayers.
“Alex was loved by so many,” Brogan wrote. Seen here: Ligertwood (left) and Fran Cosmo. Getty Images
“If you knew him, you loved him. He touched so many with his extraordinary voice. He was all heart and soul,” she continued. Seen here: Ligertwood in 2023. Getty Images
Leading up to his death, Ligertwood lived in Santa Monica, Calif., and struggled with health issues, per the Herald.
The Scottish-born musician kick-started his love for music at a young age and reportedly started playing the guitar in the 1950s, per the outlet.
He was the lead vocalist of Santana, founded by lead guitarist Carlos Santana in 1966, on and off between 1979 and 1994.
Alex was the lead vocalist of Santana on and off between 1979 and 1994. Seen here: Masayoshi Takanaka, David Margen, Ligertwood, and Carlos Santana Getty Images
He collaborated on several albums, including 1979’s “Marathon” and 1993’s “Sacred Fire: Live in South America.” Seen here (L-R): Carlos Santana and Ligertwood. Redferns
Ligertwood hitmaker collaborated with the band on several albums, including 1979’s “Marathon,” 1981’s “Zebop!” and the “Sacred Fire: Live in South America” released in 1993.
His vocals are heard in several tracks, including the 1979 hit “You Know That I Love You,” the 1981 song “Winning,” and the 1982 song “Hold On.”
Over the years, the hitmaker has performed with the tribute band The Magic of Santana, who also mourned him via social media.
Ligertwood is seen here performing with Carlos Santana on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” in 1994. NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
“We are so sad!” a spokesperson for the band wrote via Facebook. “We just heard about Alex J Ligertwood passed away!”
“We had a great journey together with him and we learned so much about music, passion and friendship. He was one of the best singer on this planet and we will deeply miss him. Thank you Alex, for everything!”
This story is developing …