Dave Mason

At 78 years old, Dave Mason has this physical status:

Musical career

Mason's time with Traffic was disjointed. He was a founding member of the company but was forced to return halfway through the sessions for their next album, Traffic (1968), which he continued to do so again. Last Exit (1969), a compilation of odds and ends, includes no information by Mason other than his song "Just for You." Although he briefly joined the band for a third time in 1971 and appeared on Welcome to the Canteen, traffic later reformed without Mason. Mason never quite fit in during his brief tenures with the group; Steve Winwood later recalled, "We all [Winwood, Jim Capaldi, and Chris Wood] used to write together, but Mason would perform a complete song and tell us all what he wants to hear. "We were not in discussion, as if we were his backers."

Mason was a protégé of guitarist Jimi Hendrix, whose rock career began in England in 1966. Hendrix first heard the song "All Along the Watchmaker" from Bob Dylan's album John Wesley Harding, with Mason at the apartment of a friend who had not heard the album before it was released. Hendrix made his own version at Olympic Studios in South West London, with Mason playing a 12-string acoustic guitar. In September 1968, the song was released on the album Electric Ladyland. On "Crosstown Traffic," Mason also sings backing vocals. When it first appeared as a single in October, it ranked No. 10. 5 on the UK Singles Chart and ranked 5th in the United States, with a top 40 in the country. Dave Mason's 1974 album, Dave Mason, was released on his own, with Bob Glaub on bass. Mason appears on the Rolling Stones' 1968 album Beggars Banquet, as the Shehnai and bass drum on Street Fighting Man. Jimmy Miller, who worked as a Stones and Traffic producer, was Mason's cousin. Mason, along with Eric Clapton and George Harrison, toured with Delaney and Bonnie and Friends in 1969-1970. Mason talks about George Harrison's 1970 solo set All Things Must Pass. Mason was expected to be Derek and the Dominos' second guitarist in 1970. He appeared in early studio sessions, including the Phil Spector production of "Tell the Truth," which was later taken from sale (and is now a collectors item). He appeared at the London Lyceum's first gig but then left the club shortly after that. He co-wrote the song "Big Thirst" on Oh How We Danced, by Jim Capaldi (Mason's bandmate in the Hellions, Deep Feeling, and Traffic), and appeared on "Don't Be a Hero."

Mason followed a moderately lucrative solo career after Traffic. His first single was "Just for You"; on the B-side, "Little Woman," he was backed by the band Family after his debut of Family's first album, 1968's Music in a Doll's House (which included "Never Like This"). In 1970, Mason released an album with Cass Elliot. He eventually released his first solo album, "Only You Know and I Know," which debuted on No. 1, which attracted no one. On the Billboard chart, 42 is the most popular, as well as the less popular "Look at You, Look at Me." He recruited singer-songwriter Ray Kennedy to tour and write for his next album in the early 1970s. He toured and recorded with guitarist Jim Krueger, keyboardist Mike Finnigan, bassist Gerald Johnson, and drummer Rick Jaeger from the mid- to late 1970s. Let It Flow, Mason's follow-up to the album, which was released in April 1977. The album reached its high point of no. 67, with just one of them reaching the top of the charts. 37, but was on the charts for 49 weeks and went platinum as a result of Mason's backup guitarist, Jim Krueger's triumph with "We Just Disagree." The single debuted at number one on the charts, with "So High (Rock Me Baby and Roll Me Away)" and "Let It Go, Let It Flow" also charted in the United States Mason's next album, Mariposa de Oro, which was released in 1978. The album featured a photograph of "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow," which became a Top 40 hit; the album itself hit number 41 and went gold; Mason appeared in the film Skatetown, United States.A., where he performed two songs in a roller disco as well as writing and performing the film's theme tune. Mason's Old Crest on a New Wave stalled at number 74 and had just one single hit the charts, "Save Me." Mason left his name Columbia because of his album's failure. Mason's quest for another big brand came to an end, but he and Krueger went on tour in an acoustic duo. On MCA Records, he released two albums, Some Assembly Required on the Canadian label Maze Records and Two Hearts; the new album, "Dreams I Dream," a duet with Phoebe Snow that debuted at number 11 in the adult contemporary charts, earned him two top tennies.

Mason was supposed to be a member of Ringo Starr & His All-Star Band in 1997, but he was forced to cancel rehearsals before the tour began.

Mason reunited with his former Traffic bandmate Jim Capaldi for the 40,000 Headmen Tour in 1998; a live album followed the tour. In 2002, he released the DVD Dave Mason: Live at Sunrise, a compilation of a live performance at the Sunrise Musical Theater in Sunrise, Florida, supported by Bobby Scumaci on keyboards, Johnne Sambataro on rhythm guitar (who revived Mason for the DVD after previously touring with him in 1978), John Lundahl on rhythm guitar, Richard Campbell on bass, and Greg Babcock on drums. 26 Letters 12 Notes is Mason's first studio album in more than 20 years. Future's Past was his first album since being published in 2014.

Mason was still performing in the United States, including a 2018 tour with Steve Cropper in 2018.

Mason joined Fleetwood Mac in 1995 and released the album Time with them for a brief period of time in the mid 1990s. He toured with them from 1994 to 1995, with the exception of REO Speedwagon and Crosby, Stills & Nash's opening.

During his time in Fleetwood Mac, Mason was never entirely healthy. "Being one of two and at times three guitarists to replace Lindsey Buckingham, I've said more about Buckingham's genius than my guitar playing" has been shared by him.

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