Alex Ligertwood

Real Name:
Alexander John Ligertwood
Profile:
Guitarist, Percussionist and Singer, born December 18, 1946 in Glasgow, UK.
Replaced Greg Walker in Santana at the end of 1979. Was with Santana until 1985, then 1987, 1989–1991, 1992–1994

The voice from Scotland…

His voice is recognized literally the world over as the lead vocalist of Santana. Over 16 years with Carlos, Alex Ligertwood provided his unique sound and interpretation on 12 albums. He earned Gold Records for four of those Santana efforts, and scored Top 40 hits with six albums and/or singles. Alex shares Santana’s soulful R & B style, which is clearly evident on the Santana hits “Winning” (Zebop), “All I Ever Wanted” (Marathon), and “Hold On” (Shango). His live rendition of the classics like “Black Magic Woman” and “Oye Como Va” scored Gold with Santana’s “Sacred Fire: Live In Latin America Album.”

There’s something deep in the soul of Scotland that produces great blues and R & B singers. Some of music’s top vocalists over the years — from Rod Stewart to Maggie Bell to Alex Ligertwood — have come out of that musically fertile land. Alex Ligertwood 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, Rhythm and Blues, and Soul. R & B was raw, electric, and didn’t hold anything back. His musical idols included the legendary Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye — good company for a budding vocalist.

Alex began his musical path by performing with local R & B groups in his native Scotland. In the mid-sixties he was a member of the critically acclaimed R & B group, The Senate. This group included the late drummer Robbie Mcintosh, who would later be known for his work in the Average White Band which toured Europe as the supporting band for Ben E. King.

It didn’t take long for others to recognize the Scotsman’s natural talents. One of the first to spotlight Alex’s big soulful voice was Jeff Beck. He promptly made Alex 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. Over the years, Alex recorded several albums with Auger’s jazz-rock unit, singing and co-writing with Auger. During the same period, Alex performed and recorded with fellow Scottish soulmates, the Average White Band.

In the late seventies, Alex served as vocalist/guitarist and co-writer with the Narada Michael Walden Band and the David Sancious & Tone Band before joining Santana in 1979. Alex brings a vocal intensity that feeds the volcanic playing of Carlos Santana. He has recorded and co-written numerous albums for Santana, including: “Marathon”, “Zebop!”, “Beyond Appearances”, “Viva Santana”, “Shango”, “Spirits Dancing in the Flesh”, “Milagro”, and “Sacred Fire”.

Alex has been musically associated with Santana for more than eighteen years. This clearly exhibits the regard that Carlos Santana holds for Alex’s musical talents. A perfect showcase for Alex’s vocal power is “Somewhere in Heaven”, a ballad from “Milagro”, co-written by Alex that brings both sides of Alex and Santana together — the lyrical and the fiery — in a passionate, spiritual tour-de-force.

His vocal talents have also been featured on the Spyro Gyra album “Dreams Beyond Control”, an honor considering that Spyro Gyra is strictly an “instrumental band”. Alex has also recorded on albums with Ben E. King, Didier Lockwood, Carly Simon, The Dixie Dregs, Michelle Colombier, Jeff Lorber, Billy Squier and many others.

Alex currently resides in Southern California. He is currently working on solo projects, as well as performing with his band Metro. He is also working on side projects with various other bands,´including live performances with the David Garfield and Friends Band, Billy Cobham and Friends Band, and with Jason Scheff in the bands Painted Rhythm and Border Patrol.
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Artist

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Albums

AKG Promo Season's Greetings — Alex Ligertwood Alex Ligertwood Season's Greetings(CD, Album) Rainflower Music Company AKG Promo US 2000 Sell This Version
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FA 576 Troc — Alex Ligertwood Troc, André Ceccarelli / Alex Ligertwood / Jannick Top / Henri Giordano / Jacky Giraudo Troc, André Ceccarelli / Alex Ligertwood / Jannick Top / Henri Giordano / Jacky Giraudo - Troc(CD, Album, RE, RM) Frémeaux & Associés FA 576 France 2012 Sell This Version
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BON131001 Twelve Years Ago — Alex Ligertwood André Ceccarelli, Thomas Bramerie, Alex Ligertwood, Eric Legnini, Denis Leloup, Nicolas Folmer, Stéphane Guillaume André Ceccarelli, Thomas Bramerie, Alex Ligertwood, Eric Legnini, Denis Leloup, Nicolas Folmer, Stéphane Guillaume - Twelve Years Ago(CD, Album) Bonsaï Music BON131001 France 2013 Sell This Version
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none Live In Los Angeles — Alex Ligertwood Brian Auger's Oblivion Express Feat. Alex Ligertwood Brian Auger's Oblivion Express Feat. Alex Ligertwood - Live In Los Angeles (Album) Freestyle Records (2) none US 2014 Sell This Version
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none Live in Spain 2016 — Alex Ligertwood The Magic of Santana, Alex Ligertwood, Tony Lindsay The Magic of Santana, Alex Ligertwood, Tony Lindsay - Live in Spain 2016(CD-ROM, Album) 420 Music none Germany 2017 Sell This Version
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CR-025 Outside The Box — Alex Ligertwood Alex Ligertwood Outside The Box(CD, Album) Creachy Productions CR-025 US 2019 Sell This Version
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Singles & EPs

JMS 45045 Can't Turn Back — Alex Ligertwood Alex Ligertwood Can't Turn Back(7", Single) Jms JMS 45045 France 1988 Sell This Version
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GRZ-5122 Send Me One Line — Alex Ligertwood Spyro Gyra With Alex Ligertwood Spyro Gyra With Alex Ligertwood - Send Me One Line(CD, Single, Promo) GRP GRZ-5122 US 1993 Sell This Version
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none Winning — Alex Ligertwood Voices Of Classic Rock feat. Alex Ligertwood Voices Of Classic Rock feat. Alex Ligertwood - Winning(File, AAC, Single, 256) Not On Label none US 2009
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none Battle Hymn Of The Republic — Alex Ligertwood Voices Of Classic Rock Feat. Mike Reno, John Cafferty, Leslie West, Larry Hoppen, Peter Rivera, Nick Gilder, Alex Ligertwood, Spencer Davis, Glenn Hughes, David Jenkins, Pat Travers, Jimi Jamison, Joe Lynn Turner & Bobby Kimball Voices Of Classic Rock Feat. Mike Reno, John Cafferty, Leslie West, Larry Hoppen, Peter Rivera, Nick Gilder, Alex Ligertwood, Spencer Davis, Glenn Hughes, David Jenkins, Pat Travers, Jimi Jamison, Joe Lynn Turner & Bobby Kimball - Battle Hymn Of The Republic(File, AAC, Single, 256) Blue Pie Records none US 2018
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Videos

none Live in Hannover 2013 — Alex Ligertwood The Magic of Santana feat. Alex Ligertwood & Tony Lindsay The Magic of Santana feat. Alex Ligertwood & Tony Lindsay - Live in Hannover 2013(DVD-V, Promo) Not On Label none Germany 2014 Sell This Version