Dave Mason, co-founder of Traffic who had a star-studded solo career, dies aged 79

British singer and guitarist wrote and performed Traffic classics including Feelin’ Alright? before platinum-selling solo albums and work with Jimi Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac and more

Dave Mason, the co-founder of rock band Traffic who also collaborated with Jimi Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac and many other A-list musicians, has died aged 79.

A statement from his representative said he died peacefully on Sunday at his home in Gardnerville, Nevada, having settled in the US in 1969. “Dave Mason lived a remarkable life devoted to the music and the people he loved,” the statement added.

Born in Worcestershire in 1946, Mason had an unusual tenure in Traffic: a frontman who wrote and performed some of their biggest hits, but who hopped in and out of the lineup.

The singer and guitarist formed the band with singer and multi-instrumentalist Steve Winwood, the teenage prodigy who had left the Spencer Davis Group after scoring a number of hits. Mason had performed backing vocals with that band, and also played with drummer Jim Capaldi and woodwind player Chris Wood, who together became the Traffic lineup.