Legendary guitarist Dave Mason has died at 79

What's happened

Dave Mason, co-founder of Traffic and a prolific session guitarist who worked with Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones and many others, has died at 79. His death has been confirmed by his publicist, with tributes highlighting his guitar-led contributions to rock and his enduring solo career.

What's behind the headline?

Dave Mason's legacy in context

Mason's work with Traffic helped define late-60s British rock, blending psychedelic textures with catchy songcraft. He wrote and sang some of Traffic's defining tracks, such as Feelin' Alright?, which has enjoyed a durable afterlife through countless covers.
His session work spans landmark records with Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and Dolly Parton, underscoring his versatility and demand as a guitarist.
Mason's solo career achieved commercial success, most notably with the top-20 hit We Just Disagree and multi-platinum albums; his influence endures in both rock guitar phrasing and a willingness to move between group work and solo projects.
The tributes from former bandmates and industry peers acknowledge his role in shaping the sound of classic rock and his openness to collaboration across genres. This mix of leadership in Traffic and flexible session work defines his standing in rock history.
Looking forward, Mason's passing invites a re-examination of Traffic's contributions to bridge-era rock and the broader network of late-20th-century rock collaborators who shaped the genre's evolution.

How we got here

Dave Mason has died at 79. He co-founded Traffic in 1967 and later pursued a solo career, releasing gold and platinum albums including Alone Together and Let It Flow. Mason has been associated with major acts—contributing to Hendrix, Harrison, Clapton, Fleetwood Mac—and he has been repeatedly part of Traffic’s evolving lineup. His collaborators have described his distinctive guitar voice and his role in shaping late-1960s and 1970s rock.

Our analysis

New York Times: Jim Farber and Bill Friskics-Warren report Mason's death and summarize his career with Traffic and solo work, noting hits like Feelin' Alright? and We Just Disagree. The Guardian provides a complementary portrait of his collaborations with Hendrix, Harrison, and Fleetwood Mac, and highlights his contentious but influential tenure within Traffic. AP News covers his retirement and health-related cancellation of tour dates before his death, adding biographical context including his 1946 Worcester birth and early formation of Traffic. These sources together frame Mason as both a pivotal member of Traffic and a prolific session musician whose influence spans multiple generations of rock.

Go deeper

How has Traffic's sound evolved since Mason's initial contributions, and which tracks best reflect his influence?
What are the most enduring covers of Feelin' Alright? and how have they shaped Mason's legacy?
Which other musicians have cited Mason as a direct influence on their guitar style?