Mason recorded with Fleetwood Mac, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, George Harrison and more throughout his career
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NEED TO KNOW
- Traffic co-founder Dave Mason died on April 19, his family confirmed to PEOPLE
- Mason penned two of the group’s biggest hits, “Feelin’ Alright?” and “Hole in my Shoe”
- The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer later recorded with the Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Jimi Hendrix and more
Dave Mason, the English guitarist and singer-songwriter who co-founded Traffic in 1967 and penned two of their greatest hits, has died at 79.
A spokesperson for Mason's family confirmed he died on April 19.
"On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of Dave Mason," a spokesperson for the Mason family tells PEOPLE, adding that the "Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, celebrated songwriter, musician, singer, and author passed away peacefully at his home in Gardnerville, Nev."
Mason is survived by his wife Winifred Wilson, his daughter Danielle, and several nieces and nephews.
"Dave Mason lived a remarkable life devoted to the music and the people he loved," the spokesperson told PEOPLE.
Born and raised in Worcester, U.K., Mason was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of Traffic's founders in 2004. The band, formed in the 1960s in the Midlands region of the U.K., was originally composed of Mason, Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood.
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Mason wrote one of the band's most memorable songs, "Feelin' Alright?" in 1968. The track later became a rock standard and one of Joe Cocker's signature songs. He also wrote the group's biggest U.K. hit, 1967's "Hole in My Shoe." Mason's guitar playing played a role in creating the group's unique blend of blues and psychedelia.
Mason left Traffic after the release of their first album, though he later reunited with the band in 1971 and 2004.
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Mason went on to record with the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and George Harrison. He later joined Eric Clapton on tour supporting Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, later writing the band's hit “Only You Know and I Know." Mason also released his own popular solo track, “We Just Disagree," in 1977.
He continued recording solo albums, with his final work appearing on 2023's A Shade Of Blues.
In the 1990s, Mason briefly joined Fleetwood Mac, plating on the band's 1995 album Time. The album was Fleetwood Mac's first since Lindsey Buckingham's departure and the first album to not feature Stevie Nicks since she joined in 1975. Time included vocals from Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett's daughter, Rebekka Ruth Lazone Bramlett.
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Mason had postponed touring in 2024 and 2025 after he “contracted a severe infection” in March 2024 and had been “courageously” battling the illness in the subsequent year.
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In a 2019 interview with Louder, Mason said a major highlight in his career was witnessing Hendrix record a cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" for his 1968 album, Electric Ladyland.
"I suppose if I have to choose one moment it would be sitting across from Hendrix, facing him with my acoustic guitar, Mitch Mitchell next to us, and laying down the track for 'All Along The Watchtower,' " he said at the time. "That would rate up there."
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Mason, who had a passion for instrumentation and the craft of songwriting, often chose not to lean into rock stardom, in spite of his starry credits.
“I still don't like standing up there in front of the spotlight. I feel very uncomfortable up there,” he told Rock Cellar in 2020. “I'm not a rock star, let's put it that way. I never wanted to be. I just wanted to write great music, make some money and have fun. And when I was younger, meet girls.”
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