Dave Mason, the British singer and guitarist who co-founded the rock band Traffic and collaborated with music legends including Jimi Hendrix and Fleetwood Mac, has died at the age of 79. A statement from his representative confirmed that he passed away peacefully on Sunday at his home in Gardnerville, Nevada, where he had lived since moving to the US in 1969. “Dave Mason lived a remarkable life devoted to the music and the people he loved,” the statement added.
Born in Worcestershire in 1946, Mason formed Traffic with Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood. The band signed to Island Records and released their debut album Mr Fantasy in 1967, with Mason writing and singing their biggest UK hit, Hole in My Shoe, which reached No 2. However, tension with Winwood led Mason to leave the group later that year, though he rejoined to write half of their second album, including the classic Feelin’ Alright?, which became a hit for Joe Cocker and many others.
After leaving Traffic permanently, Mason embarked on a prolific solo and session career. He played acoustic guitar on Jimi Hendrix’s All Along the Watchtower, contributed to the Rolling Stones’ Street Fighting Man, and appeared on George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass. He also toured with Delaney & Bonnie, briefly joined Eric Clapton’s Derek and the Dominos, and later performed with Fleetwood Mac in the 1990s. His solo work included 15 studio albums, with 1977’s Let It Flow achieving platinum status and the hit single We Just Disagree.
Mason also founded the RKS guitar company, whose instruments were used by members of the Rolling Stones. He published his memoir Only You Know & I Know in 2024 and continued touring until 2025, when he retired due to ill health.
