Dave Mason, the English guitarist, singer, and songwriter who helped launch Traffic in the late 1960s, has died at 79. His death was announced this week, closing a career that stretched across decades of rock history.
Mason was widely known for writing and performing Feelin’ Alright? and Hole in My Shoe during Traffic’s early years. The band became part of the British rock wave of the era, and his songwriting remained one of its most lasting contributions.
After leaving the group, Mason built a long solo career and reached a broad U.S. audience with songs including We Just Disagree. He also recorded and performed with major artists across rock and pop, including Jimi Hendrix, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and the Rolling Stones.
Over time, Mason’s work connected several generations of listeners, from classic rock fans to radio audiences who knew his later solo hits. His career included live performance, recording, and continued touring well into later life, leaving behind a catalog closely tied to both Traffic’s legacy and his own.