Dave Mason dies. Rock Hall legend and Traffic co-founder was 79.
Category: Entertainment
Via: john-russell • 7 months ago • 1 commentsBy: Melissa Ruggieri (USA TODAY)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Dave Mason, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and founding member of '60s prog-rock band Traffic, has died.
A spokesperson for Mason confirmed to USA TODAY that Mason died Sunday, April 19, at his home in Gardnerville, Nevada. He was 79.
"Dave Mason lived a remarkable life devoted to the music and the people he loved," read a statement about his passing.
In 2024, Mason postponed a tour after a serious heart condition was discovered during a routine medical checkup. In 2025, Mason canceled all of his tour dates as his health problems persisted.
"Recovery is a long road. My love for you all runs deep," Mason wrote on Instagram at the time.
In addition to his guitar work with Traffic, Mason is regarded for playing with Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones as well as writing the soulful "Feelin' Alright?," which Joe Cocker popularized with a finger-snapping version in 1969. Mason's solo work includes the 1977 hit ballad "We Just Disagree."
"I'm kind of the Forrest Gump of rock," Mason told USA TODAY in a 2024 interview. In March 2025, he released "A Shade of Blues," his 21st album, featuring appearances by Michael McDonald and Joe Bonamassa.
Dave Mason's history with 'Feelin' Alright?'
Mason was born May 10, 1946, in Worcester, England, but moved to California in 1969.
With Traffic, Mason broke through in 1967 with a trio of hits in the U.K. - "Paper Sun," "Hole in My Shoe" and "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush."
A lesser chart success a year later was the Mason-penned, "Feelin' Alright?" He never realized how integral a question mark would be to his songwriting history.
Mason lamented that most people overlooked the nuance of the question mark at the end of the song title because his intention was to legitimately inquire about the emotional state of the listener - are you feeling all right?
Among the song's numerous covers, Cocker's version emerged a year after Mason was unceremoniously fired from Traffic for reasons he said in his book he was still unclear about. Cocker injected the song with a feel-good vibe, turned its title into a statement rather than a query and produced an eternal bar jam.
"I wrote that song 58 years ago and it's as current as it was when I wrote it," Mason told USA TODAY. "I have to thank Joe Cocker for that. The author is sometimes not the best interpreter of his work."
Dave Mason's success was countered by dark personal turns
In September 2024, Mason released his memoir, "Only You Know & I Know," which augmented his understated career with anecdotes and unabridged commentary from friends and collaborators. The title was taken from his oft-covered song of the same name, which became a signature hit for his good friends Delaney & Bonnie in 1971 as well as an album track for Rita Coolidge the same year.
Though his career as a journeyman musician found him playing with and befriending musical luminaries - George Harrison played "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" for him prior to its release and Mason a few years later would offer guitar parts to Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" album - his personal life often took dark turns. He battled drug addiction, went bankrupt, partnered in several failed relationships, and lost his son True in 2006 at age 35 to either "drug addiction or suicide, we'll never know," Mason wrote in his memoir.
Mason is survived by his wife and partner, Winifred Wilson, daughter Danielle, nephew John (Trish) Leonard and niece Michelle Leonard, as well as his brothers-in-law Sloan (Claudia) Wilson and Walton (Barbara Sims) Wilson. In addition to True, Mason was preceded in death by his sister, Valerie Leonard.
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As I recall , Dave Mason had a couple of solo albums that I bought and liked a lot.
Show Me Some Affection - Dave Mason
All Along The Watchtower
We Just Disagree