Dave Mason, Traffic Co-Founder Who Wrote 'Feelin' Alright?,' Dead at 79
Dave Mason, the British rock guitarist and singer who co-founded Traffic in the late 1960s and wrote the enduring classic "Feelin' Alright?," died Sunday at age 79. He passed away peacefully at his home in Gardnerville, Nevada on April 19, 2026. No cause of death was given.
A Founding Voice of British Rock
Mason was born in Worcester, England, in 1946 and came of age during the British Invasion era that reshaped popular music worldwide. He co-founded Traffic in 1967 alongside Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, and Chris Wood, and the band quickly established itself as one of the more adventurous acts of the psychedelic rock era.
His most celebrated contribution to Traffic was "Feelin' Alright?," a song he wrote and sang that became one of the defining tracks of that period. Joe Cocker's cover version brought the song to a far wider audience, and it has remained a staple of classic rock radio for more than five decades.
"On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of Dave Mason," his press representative said in a statement. "Dave Mason lived a remarkable life devoted to the music and the people he loved."
A Solo Career Built on Staying Power
Mason's relationship with Traffic was famously turbulent — he left and rejoined the band multiple times — but his solo output proved he needed no single band to sustain a career. His 1970 debut solo album spawned "Only You Know and I Know," and his 1977 single "We Just Disagree" reached the top 20 in the United States, becoming the biggest hit of his solo run.
Beyond his own recordings, Mason was a sought-after collaborator in an era defined by studio experimentation. He contributed guitar to Jimi Hendrix's landmark album "Electric Ladyland," appeared on George Harrison's solo debut "All Things Must Pass," and played on the Rolling Stones track "Street Fighting Man." Just as Prince's legacy extends well beyond his own catalog, Mason's fingerprints are found across the work of artists who defined his generation.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and a Stint With Fleetwood Mac
In 2004, Mason was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a founding member of Traffic alongside Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, and Chris Wood. One of the more unusual chapters came in the mid-1990s, when he briefly joined Fleetwood Mac. Mason appeared on the 1995 album "Time" and toured alongside Bekka Bramlett during a period when Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks had both departed. Not unlike the founding members of other era-defining bands, Mason spent decades reinventing what his legacy could mean.
In 2024, Mason canceled his planned "Traffic Jam Tour," citing a serious heart condition. Last fall, he announced his full retirement from touring.
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 Mason, "Feelin' Alright?" still turns up in films and stadiums; "We Just Disagree" still plays on the radio. The music proved more durable than any of it.
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