Dave Mason Dies at 79 as Rock World Remembers Traffic Co Founder and Feelin’ Alright Songwriter
Last Updated on April 22, 2026 by Bella
Dave Mason, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame musician best known as a co-founder of Traffic and the writer of enduring rock songs like “Feelin’ Alright” and “Hole in My Shoe,” has died at the age of 79. According to the announcement cited in the source report, Mason’s death was confirmed by his publicist. No cause of death was disclosed, though the report noted that ill health had forced him to cancel a tour last year.
Mason leaves behind one of the most varied and influential careers in classic rock. While many fans first discovered him through Traffic, his impact reached far beyond that band. He built a reputation as a fiery guitarist, gifted songwriter, and distinctive singer whose work crossed generations and genres. Over the years, he collaborated with some of the biggest names in music, including the Rolling Stones, George Harrison, Jimi Hendrix, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Leon Russell, Michael Jackson, and Cass Elliot.
Dave Mason Helped Shape Traffic’s Early Legacy
Born in Worcester, England in 1946, Dave Mason became a professional musician while still in his teens. His early musical journey included work with the Jaguars and the Hellions, where he first connected with drummer Jim Capaldi, a partnership that would later become important in Traffic’s creation. In 1967, Mason joined Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, and Chris Wood in forming Traffic, one of the defining bands of the psychedelic era.
Though Mason’s relationship with Traffic was famously inconsistent, with multiple exits and returns, his creative contributions were central to the band’s identity. He wrote some of their most recognizable songs, including “Hole in My Shoe” and “Feelin’ Alright.” He also brought instrumental experimentation to the group, contributing sitar and other unusual sounds that helped give Traffic its adventurous late 1960s character. The report notes that he played a major role in the band’s first two albums, Mr. Fantasy and the self-titled follow-up.
Feelin’ Alright Became Bigger Than Traffic
One of Dave Mason’s greatest legacies is undoubtedly “Feelin’ Alright.” While Traffic’s version was not a major hit, the song took on a life of its own after Joe Cocker turned it into one of the most iconic recordings of the era. That transformation helped cement Mason’s reputation as a songwriter whose work could travel far beyond its original setting. It also ensured that his music would remain woven into the fabric of rock history long after the psychedelic era ended.
Dave Mason Worked With Rock Royalty
After leaving Traffic in 1968, Mason became something of a musical free agent, joining major artists on landmark projects. The source notes that he played on the Rolling Stones’ Beggars Banquet and Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Ladyland, including 12-string acoustic guitar on “All Along the Watchtower” and background vocals on “Crosstown Traffic.” He later contributed to George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass and briefly joined Derek & the Dominos, though he exited before the recording of Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.
That list alone shows how respected Mason was among his peers. He was not simply part of one great band. He was a trusted musician who moved through some of the most important rock circles of his era.
A Solo Career That Kept Evolving
Dave Mason also enjoyed a notable solo run. His 1974 self-titled album went gold in the United States, and he later scored one of his biggest solo hits with “We Just Disagree” from the 1977 album Let It Flow. Even when chart success faded, he remained active, continuing to record and perform through the 1980s and later decades. In one of the more unexpected turns in his career, he even joined Fleetwood Mac in the 1990s during a transitional lineup period.
Dave Mason is survived by his wife, Winifred Wilson, and his daughter, Danielle. He was preceded in death by his son, True, and his sister, Valerie Leonard. For fans of classic rock, Mason’s death marks the loss of a musician whose fingerprints were on some of the most important sounds of his generation. His songs, collaborations, and restless creative spirit ensured that his place in rock history was long secured.
TL;DR
- Dave Mason, co founder of Traffic and writer of classics like “Feelin’ Alright” and “Hole in My Shoe,” has died at 79.
- He was a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and a major figure in late 1960s and 1970s rock.
- Beyond Traffic, Mason worked with legends including Jimi Hendrix, George Harrison, the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, and Michael Jackson.
- His solo career brought hits such as “Only You Know and I Know” and “We Just Disagree.”
- Mason’s influence stretched across psychedelic rock, classic rock, and major collaborative projects over several decades.
