AceShowbiz - Alex Ligertwood, the Scottish singer renowned for his long tenure as the voice of Santana, has passed away at the age of 79.

His wife and agent, Shawn Brogan, confirmed Ligertwood's death in a heartfelt social media statement released over the weekend. She shared that he died peacefully in his sleep with his doggy Bobo by his side at their Santa Monica home. No cause of death was disclosed.

"Alex was loved by so many. If you knew him, you loved him," Brogan said. She reflected on his extraordinary talent and spirit, saying he was all heart and soul and that his greatest joy was making music and sharing his gift with others. Remarkably, Ligertwood performed his final concert just two weeks prior to his passing. Brogan added, "He did it his way, on his terms, till the end."

Requests for comment from representatives of Carlos Santana had not been returned at the time of publication.

Ligertwood joined Santana in 1979 and remained the band's lead vocalist through 1994. Although the band’s commercial peak had passed, his time with them included notable charting singles, extensive touring, and high-profile shows such as Live Aid in 1985.

He lent his voice to songs like "You Know That I Love You," "Winning," "Hold On," and "Say It Again." Additionally, he co-wrote several tracks including "Somewhere in Heaven," "Brightest Star," and "Make Somebody Happy."

In his memoir, Santana recalled first witnessing Ligertwood perform with David Sancious’ band in the mid-1970s. He noted that despite Ligertwood’s thick Scottish accent making him hard to understand when speaking, his great R&B voice was undeniable.

Santana praised how well Ligertwood integrated into the band: "He became the voice of Santana on many of our albums and on most of our tours in the '80s and into the '90s." He added that Ligertwood could evoke a divine feeling through his singing, especially on the song "Somewhere in Heaven" from the 1992 Milagro album.

Born in Glasgow in 1946, Ligertwood began his musical journey singing in choirs and playing piano. He later took up guitar and performed in skiffle groups around Glasgow during the 1950s. One of his early career highlights was singing for the Senate, a Scottish soul cover band active across Europe in the late 1960s.

Ligertwood leaves behind a legacy as a soulful vocalist who contributed significantly to the sound and success of one of rock’s most enduring bands.