Dave Mason, the guitarist, singer, and songwriter who helped found Traffic and wrote the enduring rock standard “Feelin’ Alright?,” has died at age 79.
Mason died Sunday, according to a statement released by his publicist. A cause of death was not immediately announced. He had retired from touring last fall, citing ongoing health issues.
Born May 10, 1946, in Worcester, England, Mason emerged during the British rock explosion of the 1960s. He joined fellow Midlands musicians Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood to form Traffic in 1967.
The band quickly found success in Britain with hits including “Paper Sun,” “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush,” and “Hole in My Shoe,” the whimsical Top 10 single written and sung by Mason. He later contributed half the songs on Traffic’s self-titled 1968 album, including “Feelin’ Alright?,” which became a worldwide favorite after Joe Cocker turned it into a signature hit the following year.
Though his time in Traffic was marked by frequent departures and reunions, Mason built a reputation as one of rock’s most versatile collaborators. He played on recordings by The Rolling Stones, contributed 12-string acoustic guitar to Jimi Hendrix’s version of “All Along the Watchtower,” and appeared on George Harrison’s landmark album All Things Must Pass. He also toured with Eric Clapton and later spent time with Fleetwood Mac in the 1990s.
Mason also enjoyed a successful solo career. His 1970 debut album Alone Together featured “Only You Know and I Know,” which became one of his best-known songs. He returned to the charts in 1977 with “We Just Disagree,” a soft-rock staple that introduced him to a new generation of listeners.
He continued recording and touring for decades, releasing new music into the 2000s and 2010s while remaining a popular live performer. In 2024, he mounted a “Traffic Jam” tour celebrating songs from across his career.
Mason was often self-deprecating about his long list of famous associations, once describing himself as the “Forrest Gump of rock” because of the many major artists and moments he encountered.
Source: Rolling Stone