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(NEXSTAR) – Legendary musician Dave Mason, an original member of the iconic band Traffic and a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, passed away on Sunday at his residence in Gardnerville, Nevada, according to his spokesperson.
“It is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of Dave Mason,” a post on his Instagram account announced Tuesday evening. “On Sunday, April 19, after preparing a wonderful dinner with his cherished wife Winifred, he settled in for a nap with his dear dog Star, a Maltese, resting at his feet. He departed this life peacefully in his favorite chair, surrounded by the stunning Carson Valley he adored. It was a storybook ending, on his own terms, just as he lived his life to the fullest right up to the end.”
The statement further expressed, “He leaves a lasting imprint on the soundtrack of our lives and the hearts he has lifted. His legacy will be cherished forever.”
Details regarding the cause of Mason’s death were not revealed by his representative. However, it is known that Mason had canceled all his planned performances in June 2025 due to “ongoing health issues,” as he mentioned at the time. He had also withdrawn from events in 2024 after being diagnosed with a “serious heart condition,” according to the BBC.
“Dave Mason lived a remarkable life devoted to the music and the people he loved,” his representative commented.
Mason formed Traffic in Birmingham, England, in 1967 alongside Steve Winwood, Chris Wood and Jim Capaldi, and the group released its debut album, “Mr. Fantasy,” not long after. Mason left the band briefly before rejoining to record their sophomore album “Traffic.” The album contained the single “Feelin’ Alright?” — which Mason wrote — and which would go on to become a bigger hit after it was re-recorded and released by Joe Cocker.
“I’m flattered there have been so many [cover versions of ‘Feelin’ Alright?’], but to me Cocker’s is the definitive version,” Mason told Songwriting magazine in 2017. “When I play it now, we use the piano riff from the Cocker version and I up-tempo it.”
Mason had a few hits as a solo artist, most notably “We Just Disagree” and “Only You and I Know.” He also joined Fleetwood Mac in the mid-1990s, contributing to their 1995 album “Time.”
Mason was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alongside his former Traffic bandmates in 2004.
“It’s been a great honor to have made the music to these people,” Mason said during his induction. “I mean, they’re just fantastic.”
Mason leaves behind his wife, Winifred Wilson, and daughter, Danielle, his representatives confirmed. His son, True, had preceded him in death, they said.