Dave Mason, the celebrated singer, songwriter and musician who was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame as a co-founder of Traffic, died Sunday (April 19) at the age of 79.
“On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of Dave Mason,” reads a statement from his publicists. Mason, the message continues, “lived a remarkable life devoted to the music and the people he loved.”
Born in post-war England, in 1946, Mason rose to prominence with the blues-rock band Traffic, for which he contributed writing credits and lead vocals for such tracks such as “Hole in My Shoe” and “Feelin Alright?,” which would be recorded by dozens of artists, including the Joe Cocker, the Jackson 5, and John Belushi.
Mason also enjoyed a impressive solo career, which got underway in 1970 with his debut solo album, Alone Together, which peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard 200, and featured the Billboard Hot 100 hit “Only You Know and I Know.” Let If Flow from tk was a platinum smash, yielding the single “We Just Disagree.”
As a collaborator, Mason was a wanted man. Across the years, he recorded or performed with the likes of George Harrison, Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Michael Jackson and others. His guitar work can be heard on Hendrix’s “All Along the Watchtower,” on the Stones’ “Street Fighting Man,” McCartney’s “Listen To What The Man Said” and on fellow Beatle Harrison’s own collection All Things Must Pass.
Traffic finally broke up in 1974 after releasing 11 albums, four of which landed cracked the top 10 on the Billboard 200. While active, four Traffic singles crashed the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The rockers reunited two decades later to tour in 1993-94, while Mason hit the road with Traffic drummer Jim Capaldi in 1998.
In 2004, Mason was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member Traffic, in a class that included Prince, ZZ Top, Jackson Browne, and Bob Seger. Bandmates Jim Capaldi and Steve Winwood performed “Dear Mr. Fantasy” at the ceremony. The following year, Capaldi died after a brief battle with stomach cancer, aged 60.
Mason returned to the Rock Hall in 2009 for an official VIP induction pre-party at the pillar’s museum, where he played an acoustic set that included “Dear Mr. Fantasy” and his rendition of Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower.”
According to reps, Mason passed away peacefully at his home in Gardnerville, NV.
Mason is survived by his beloved wife and partner, Winifred Wilson, his daughter Danielle, nephew John (Trish) Leonard and niece Michelle Leonard, as well as his brothers in law Sloan (Claudia) Wilson and Walton (Barbara Sims) Wilson. He was preceded in death by his son, True and his sister, Valerie Leonard.
