Dave Mason

British musician

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July 19, 2026

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Dave Mason was a principal member of the British rock group Traffic, known for their incorporation of jazzlike improvisation into rock music. Born in Worcester, England, on May 10, 1946, Mason was a guitarist for the band. He was part of Traffic's initial psychedelic pop collective and contributed to their debut album, Mr. Fantasy (1967). Mason departed and returned briefly, co-writing songs for their self-titled album in 1968 before his departure. He later pursued a solo career and published his memoir in 2024.12

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Traffic
Winwood, flutist-saxophonist Chris Wood, guitarist Dave Mason, and drummer Jim Capaldi. With such songs as “Dear Mr. Fantasy” and “Feelin’ Alright” (which was later covered by more than two dozen other artists, notably Joe Cocker), the band and its sound came to be regarded as the epitome of classic rock.
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Winwood, flutist-saxophonist Chris Wood, guitarist Dave Mason, and drummer Jim Capaldi. With such songs as “Dear Mr. Fantasy” and “Feelin’ Alright” (which was later covered by more than two dozen other artists, notably Joe Cocker), the band and its sound came to be regarded as the epitome of classic rock.
Read More