Photo Credit: Dave Mason in 1974 by Jim Summaria / CC by 3.0
Dave Mason, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer best known as the lead singer and co-founder of English rock band Traffic, has passed away. He was 79.
Singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Mason, known as the lead singer and co-founder of English rock band Traffic, has passed away. The musician died in his home over the weekend, with no cause of death announced. He was 79.
“On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of Dave Mason,” read a statement from his rep shared with the press. “On Sunday, April 19, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, celebrated songwriter, musician, singer, and author, passed away peacefully at his home in Gardnerville, NV.”
“After cooking an amazing dinner with his beloved wife Winifred, he sat down to take a nap with sweet Star (the Maltese) at his feet,” added the statement posted on his social media pages. “He passed away peacefully in his favorite chair, surrounded by the beautiful Carson Valley that he loved so much.”
“He leaves a lasting imprint on the soundtrack of our lives and the hearts he has filled. His legacy will be cherished forever,” the post concluded, while the statement from his rep added that he “lived a remarkable life devoted to the music and the people he loved.”
Mason was a founding member of Traffic in 1967, and it was with the band that he rose to prominence. But he also had a successful solo career after leaving the group; Mason reunited with them several times. His hits included “Feelin’ Alright?”, “Only You Know and I Know,” and “We Just Disagree.”
In 2024, Mason cancelled his Traffic Jam Tour due to “a serious heart condition” when his doctors advised against any further tour activity. The following year, he officially announced that he would retire from touring due to “ongoing health challenges.”
He is survived by his wife, Winifred Wilson, and his daughter, Danielle, as well as his nephew, niece, and two brothers-in-law.
