Alex Ligertwood

The "Voice" of Santana for 17 years, Alex has recorded and co-wrote eight albums for Santana MARATHON, ZEBOP!, BEYOND APPEARANCES, VIVA SANTANA, SHANGO, SPIRITS DANCING IN THE FLESH, MILAGRO AND THE LATEST SACRED FIRE

"There's something deep in the soul of Scotland that produces great blues and R&B singers. Some of rock's top vocalists over the years, from Rod Stewart to Maggie Bell to Santana's lead vocalist Alex Ligertwood, have come out of that musically fertile land. Alex grew up in the rough and tumble city of Glasgow. For him, it was a place just east of Detroit or Memphis. He loved American Music, especially Motown, R&B and the emotional charge packed by the leading soul singers of the sixties. It was raw, electric and didn't hold anything back. His musical idols included the legendary voices of Ray Charles, Sam Cook, Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye, good company for a budding vocalist. The Scotsman's natural talents didn't take long to recognize. One of the first to spot Ligertwood's big soulful voice was Jeff Beck. He promptly made Ligertwood lead vocalist for the Jeff Beck band in the early seventies. Next up was a stint with another legendary British band, Brian Auger's Oblivion Express. Alex recorded four albums with Auger's Jazz-Rock unit, delivering scorching vocals on tracks like "Truth", and also plying rhythm guitar, as well as co-writing the albums with Brian Auger.
During the same period, Ligertwood performed and recorded with fellow
Scottish soulmates, The Average White Band. A longtime friend of the band,
Ligertwood continues to do concerts and sessions with his Rhythm 'N' Roll
compatriots. His lead vocals are featured on three Average White Band
Recordings.
In the late seventies, Ligertwood served as Vocalist/Guitarist and co-writer
with Narda Michael Walden Band and the David Sancious & Tone Band before
joining Santana in 1979. It has proven to be an ideal match. Ligertwood
brings a vocal intensity that feeds the volcanic playing of Carlos Santana.
He has recorded and co-wrote eight albums for Santana: MARATHON, ZEBOP!
BEYOND APPEARANCES, VIVA SANTANA, SHANGO, SPIRITS DANCING IN
THE FLESH, MILAGRO AND THE LATEST SACRED FIRE.
A perfect showcase for Ligert-wood's vocal power is "SOMEWHERE IN HEAVEN", A
ballad from Milagro that brings both sides of Ligertwood and Santana - the
Lyrical and the fiery - together in a Passionate, Spiritual Tou-De-Force. The
song propels Ligertwood into the fromt ranks of R&B balladeers. Alex also
co-wrote this song with Carlos Santana.
Ligertwood lives in Santa Monica, California, with his wife. He is currently working on a
solo project and on various sountrack's as well as working on side projects with various
bands. His vocal talents were recently featured on the Spyro Gyro album "DREAM
BEYOND CONTROL". an honor considering Spyro Gyro is strictly an instrumental band."

Alex has recorded albums with Ben E King, Didier
Lockwood, Carly Simon, The Dixie Dreggs, Michelle Colombier, Pat Simmons of the
Doobie Brothers, Jeff Lorber and many others.

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