Dave Mason, the British guitar virtuoso and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer who co-founded Traffic and penned enduring rock anthems “Feelin’ Alright?” and “Hole in My Shoe,” died peacefully at his Gardnerville, Nevada, home on Sunday, April 19, 2026. He was 79.
Mason’s family shared on his official Instagram page that the musician passed away after “cooking an amazing dinner with his beloved wife Winifred.” The post painted a tranquil picture of his final moments: “He sat down to take a nap with sweet Star (the Maltese) at his feet.”
Longtime publicist Melissa Dragich confirmed the death. No official cause was disclosed, though Mason had announced in September 2024 that doctors discovered a serious heart condition during a routine visit, prompting him to cancel remaining tour dates. He retired from performing in fall 2025, attributing the decision to health problems from an infection and citing “closing the curtain on 60 remarkable years of rock ‘n’ roll.”
A Psychedelic Pioneer And Unstable Partnership
Born May 10, 1946, in Worcester, England, Mason was gigging professionally by his teens. His collaboration with drummer Jim Capaldi started in the mid-1960s when both were members of the Hellions, while working as road manager for the Spencer Davis Group brought him into contact with a remarkably gifted young Steve Winwood.
Traffic emerged in 1967 when Mason, Winwood, Capaldi and flautist and saxophonist Chris Wood decamped to a Berkshire cottage to develop songs, establishing the “getting it together in the country” philosophy that would resonate throughout rock music for generations. The quartet became defining voices of the psychedelic era.
Mason’s songwriting fueled Traffic’s first two records, including the 1967 psychedelic landmark “Mr. Fantasy.” His composition “Hole in My Shoe” reached No. 2 on British singles charts, while “Feelin’ Alright?” became a massive hit through versions by Joe Cocker, Three Dog Night, the Jackson 5, Grand Funk Railroad and numerous other artists.
His tenure with Traffic was notoriously volatile. Fired following the second album, Mason briefly rejoined in 1971 before departing permanently that year. The band received Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2004, solidifying their place in music history.
Chart Success And Legendary Session Work
Mason’s 1970 solo debut “Alone Together” launched an independent career that yielded beloved tracks “Only You Know and I Know,” “Sad and Deep as You” and “Look at You, Look at Me.” Subsequent hits included “Shouldn’t Have Took More Than You Gave,” Jim Krueger’s “We Just Disagree,” “So High (Rock Me Baby and Roll Me Away)” and “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.”
The Recording Industry Association of America certified three of his albums gold — “Alone Together,” 1974’s “Dave Mason” and 1978’s “Mariposa de Oro” — while 1977’s “Let It Flow” achieved platinum status. Mason’s session work matched his solo achievements in prestige. His contributions graced iconic albums including the Rolling Stones’ “Beggars Banquet” (playing shehnai on “Street Fighting Man”), Jimi Hendrix’s “Electric Ladyland” (where he played the 12-string acoustic on the iconic cover of Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower”), George Harrison’s “All Things Must Pass,” and Paul McCartney and Wings’ “Venus and Mars,” where he played on “Listen to What the Man Said.”
Mason played on Fleetwood Mac’s 16th studio album “Time” during the 1990s and toured with the band from 1994 to 1995 after Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks departed. He co-founded RKS Guitars in 2004 with industrial designer Ravi Sawhney, creating a sustainable electric guitar company.
Remembrances From Fellow Musicians
Steve Winwood posted a moving tribute to his former bandmate. “Dave played an important role in shaping the band’s sound and identity,” Winwood wrote. “His songwriting, musicianship and distinctive spirit helped create music that has lasted far beyond its era, and continues to mean so much to listeners around the world.”
Singer-songwriter Stephen Bishop, who performed alongside Mason in the early 1970s, shared memories on Instagram. “I was always a fan of his early work with Traffic. I especially love his song Only You Know And I Know,” Bishop wrote, describing Mason as “always kind” and “an incredible guitar player.”
Mick Fleetwood, the Fleetwood Mac drummer who befriended Mason during their childhood in England, paid his own homage. The two shared lifelong nicknames from the children’s book “The Wind in the Willows” — Mason was “Toad,” Fleetwood was “Badger.” “Sweet David Mason left this world, but not without a reminder of heartfelt songs that question the meaning of life, with the understanding of such insight into life’s puzzle,” Fleetwood said.
Mason’s family expressed the breadth of his influence in their Instagram statement: “He leaves a lasting imprint on the soundtrack of our lives and the hearts he has lifted. His legacy will be cherished forever.”
He is survived by wife Winifred Wilson; daughter Danielle; nephew John Leonard; niece Michelle Leonard; and brothers-in-law Sloan Wilson and Walton Wilson. His son, True, and sister, Valerie Leonard, preceded him in death. Mason’s guitar work and compositions helped define classic rock from the late 1960s psychedelic revolution through 1970s arena rock and beyond — a musical presence that endures.