Dave Mason, Traffic Co-Founder and Rock Guitarist Behind “Feelin’ Alright?”, Dies at 79

English guitarist, singer-songwriter and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Dave Mason has died at the age of 79, his family has confirmed.

A family spokesperson said Mason died peacefully on April 19 at his home in Gardnerville, Nevada.

“On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of Dave Mason,” the spokesperson told PEOPLE, describing him as a “celebrated songwriter, musician, singer, and author” who lived a life devoted to music and family.

Mason is survived by his wife Winifred Wilson, his daughter Danielle, and several nieces and nephews.

Born and raised in Worcester, England, Mason rose to prominence in the 1960s as a founding member of the British rock band Traffic, alongside Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood.

Formed in 1967, Traffic became known for blending blues, rock and psychedelia, with Mason playing a key role in shaping the group’s early sound. He co-wrote one of the band’s most enduring tracks, “Feelin’ Alright?” (1968), which later became a global rock standard famously covered by Joe Cocker. He also wrote the group’s 1967 hit “Hole in My Shoe.”

Although Mason left Traffic after their debut album, he later rejoined the band for brief reunions in 1971 and again in 2004.

Beyond Traffic, Mason built a wide-ranging career collaborating with some of rock’s biggest names, including the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and George Harrison. He also toured with Eric Clapton and contributed to the Delaney & Bonnie project, later writing “Only You Know and I Know.”

His solo career delivered its own major success, most notably the 1977 hit “We Just Disagree,” which became a defining track of his solo catalogue. He continued releasing music for decades, with his final album A Shade of Blues arriving in 2023.

In the 1990s, Mason briefly joined Fleetwood Mac, performing on their 1995 album Time, released after lineup changes that marked a transitional period for the band.

Mason had postponed touring in 2024 and 2025 after suffering a severe infection in March 2024, later focusing on recovery.

Reflecting on his career in a 2019 interview, Mason described working with Jimi Hendrix on the recording of Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” as a defining moment.

“I suppose if I have to choose one moment it would be sitting across from Hendrix… laying down the track for ‘All Along the Watchtower,’” he said. “That would rate up there.”

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