Dave Mason, Traffic Co-Founder and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Guitarist, Dies at 79

Dave Mason, the visionary guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder of Traffic whose work helped define an era of British rock, has died at the age of 79. He passed away Sunday at his home in Gardnerville, Nevada, according to confirmation from his publicist, Melissa Dragich. A cause of death has not yet been disclosed. Mason had stepped away from touring last year before formally announcing his retirement, citing ongoing health complications related to an infection and marking what he described as the end of “60 remarkable years of rock n’ roll.”

Born on May 10, 1946, in Worcester, England, Mason emerged as a defining creative force in the late 1960s, co-founding Traffic alongside Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, and Chris Wood. The band quickly distinguished itself with a genre-blurring sound rooted in psychedelia, jazz, and folk influences—an identity shaped in no small part by Mason’s melodic sensibility and fluid guitar work.

Among his most enduring contributions was the song “Feelin’ Alright,” which, while not an immediate commercial success upon release, would go on to become a cornerstone of the rock and soul repertoire through widely acclaimed renditions by artists including Joe Cocker, The Jackson 5, Gladys Knight, Paul Weller, and Grand Funk Railroad. Another Mason-penned track, “Hole in My Shoe,” further underscored his role in shaping Traffic’s early sound.

Despite his central role, Mason’s tenure with Traffic was marked by a series of departures and returns, reflecting a complex creative dynamic within the group. By 1969, he had embarked on a solo career that would yield several commercially successful releases. Albums such as Alone Together (1970), featuring the hit “Only You Know and I Know,” along with Dave Mason (1974) and Mariposa de Oro (1978), achieved gold certification, while 1977’s Let It Flow reached platinum status—solidifying his standing as a solo artist of lasting relevance.

Beyond his own catalog, Mason’s musicianship extended into some of the most influential recordings of the era. He contributed to landmark albums including Beggars Banquet by The Rolling Stones, All Things Must Pass by George Harrison, Venus and Mars by Wings, and Electric Ladyland by Jimi Hendrix—a testament to both his versatility and the esteem in which he was held by his peers.

Mason’s legacy was formally recognized in 2004 with his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Traffic. In the wake of his passing, Winwood paid tribute to his former bandmate, reflecting on the formative years they shared. He credited Mason’s songwriting, musicianship, and distinctive artistic spirit as foundational to the band’s identity, noting that the music they created together continues to resonate with audiences worldwide. “His place in that history will always be remembered,” Winwood wrote, adding that Mason’s presence endures through the recordings that defined a generation.

Mason is survived by his wife, Winifred Wilson; his daughter, Danielle; his nephew, John Leonard; his niece, Michelle Leonard; and his brothers-in-law, Sloan Wilson and Walton Wilson.