Dave Mason, Traffic co-founder and classic-rock songwriter, dies at 79

Dave Mason, the singer-guitarist whose “Feelin’ Alright?” became one of classic rock’s most durable songs, died at 79, leaving behind a songbook that reached far beyond the profile he kept for much of his career. He died peacefully at his home in Gardnerville, Nevada, and no cause of death was immediately disclosed.

Born David Thomas Mason on May 10, 1946, in Worcester, Worcestershire, England, Mason helped form Traffic in 1967 with Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood. The British rock group earned a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, cementing the importance of a band that helped define the era’s crossover between rock, blues and soul.

Mason’s name was sometimes quieter than those of some of his peers, but his songs traveled widely. He wrote and sang lead on Traffic staples including “Feelin’ Alright?” and “Hole in My Shoe,” records that helped establish his reputation as a sharp melodic writer with a restless, individual voice. “Feelin’ Alright?” in particular outlived its original setting to become a classic-rock standard, a song that kept finding new life in other hands and on other stages.

He also built a solo career with major reach in the United States. His 1977 hit “We Just Disagree,” co-written with Jim Krueger, became his best-known solo success on the U.S. charts. That run followed earlier solo recognition with “Only You Know and I Know,” underscoring the range of his writing and the consistency of his hook-filled style.

Mason’s reach extended across the rock landscape. He recorded or performed with the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, George Harrison and Fleetwood Mac, placing him in the middle of one of the most influential circles in popular music. Those collaborations helped trace a career built less on celebrity than on utility: Mason was the kind of musician other major artists wanted in the room because his guitar work and songs could strengthen a track without overwhelming it.

He retired from touring in 2025 because of health issues, ending more than 50 years on the road. By then, Mason had already secured a legacy that outlasted his public visibility: a founding role in Traffic, a solo hit that still registered with listeners, and songs that helped shape the classic-rock canon itself.