Overview
- He died peacefully in his sleep at his longtime Santa Monica home, his wife and the Brogan Agency said, noting his dog Bobo was by his side.
- He led Santana across five separate stints from 1979 to 1994 and sang lead on songs including "Winning," "Hold On," "You Know That I Love You" and "All I Ever Wanted."
- He also co-wrote Santana tracks such as "Somewhere in Heaven" and "Make Somebody Happy," and he was the group's singer for high-profile shows like Live Aid in 1985.
- His wife said he performed his last show about two weeks before his death, and touring partner Brandon Paul praised his "force of nature" voice.
- No cause of death was shared, and no formal statement from Santana had been reported as outlets confirmed the news and published tributes.
- Beyond Santana, he performed with the Jeff Beck Group and Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express, with Auger calling him a rare talent with unmatched range.