Dave Mason, the legendary guitarist for the British psychedelic rock band Traffic, has died at the age of 79. The musician, who collaborated with icons such as Jimi Hendrix and The Rolling Stones, passed away on Sunday, 19 April, as announced on his social media accounts on Tuesday, 21 April. No cause of death was provided.
A photograph of Mason accompanied the announcement, which read: “It is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of Dave Mason. On Sunday, April 19, after cooking an amazing dinner with his beloved wife Winifred, he sat down to take a nap with sweet Star (the maltese) at his feet. He passed away peacefully, in his favourite chair, surrounded by the beautiful Carson Valley that he loved so much. A storybook ending. On his own terms. Which is how he lived his life right up until the end.”
Mason’s family wrote that he would “leave a lasting imprint on the soundtrack of our lives and the hearts he has lifted”. “His legacy will be cherished forever,” the post concluded.
Early Life and Career
Born in Worcester in 1946, Mason learned to play the guitar at age 16 and began his professional career as a member of the rock group the Jaguars. He left the group in 1963 to join the Hellions, which featured future Traffic member Jim Capaldi. Mason’s entry into the mainstream music scene came through the Spencer Davis Group, where he initially worked as a roadie and later recorded backing vocals.
Formation of Traffic
Traffic was formed in 1967 from Spencer Davis Group’s Steve Winwood, Mason, Capaldi, and flautist Chris Wood. In their first year, the psychedelic group, known for their lengthy songs, scored three top 10 singles: “Paper Sun”, “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush,” and “Hole in My Shoe”. The success of “Hole in My Shoe”, which Mason wrote and sang on, led him to temporarily leave the band to release a solo single, but he returned to work on their self-titled second album in 1968, a follow-up to the previous year’s Mr Fantasy.
The album included the track “Feelin’ Alright”, which Mason wrote after leaving the band for the first time. While not a huge hit for Traffic, it became more popular after being covered by Joe Cocker in 1969, and later by Huey Lewis in 2000. Mason left Traffic once more after the album’s release, with the group disbanding the next year and later reforming without him.
Solo Career and Legacy
Having worked as a session musician for artists including Hendrix and George Harrison alongside his work with Traffic, Mason pursued a solo career upon leaving the band. He released 10 albums between 1970 and 1980, including a record with Cass Elliot of The Mamas and the Papas in 1971. He achieved three gold albums and wrote more than 100 songs.
Traffic were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 by Dave Matthews, while Mason retired from touring last September, citing ongoing health challenges at the time. His family’s tribute concluded: “His legacy will be cherished forever.”
