<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dave Mason was feeling anything but \u2018alright\u2019 in December of 1968.\u00a0 He was summoned to \u2018another band meeting of Traffic\u2019, the band he had cofounded with Steve Winwood, Chris Wood, and Jim Capaldi.\u00a0 The meeting was held at the home of their manager Chris Blackwell who was also the head of their record label, Island Records.\u00a0 Mason had penned the band’s biggest hit so far (<\/span>Hole in My Shoe <\/span><\/i>which had reached #2 on the charts) but he confessed that he didn\u2019t know what the meeting was all about:\u00a0 \u201cIt had to be something good I thought – maybe an upcoming American tour or something related to the release of our second album.\u201d\u00a0 Maybe Blackwell had some good news to share about the release of their next single, the Mason penned <\/span>Feelin\u2019 Alright?.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0 He would soon find out he was wrong on all accounts.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The band Traffic was formed in a rather untypical fashion for the time.\u00a0 They weren\u2019t doing pub gigs or any of the usual things bands did when seeking a wider audience and a record contract.\u00a0 They got together and jammed without a real plan.\u00a0 Steve Winwood was the most high profile musician of the lot from his time with the Spencer Davis Group (he joined the SDG at the young age of fifteen).\u00a0 With his soulful singing and deft touch on the organ, he had helped that group notch hits with <\/span>Somebody Help Me, Gimme Some Lovin\u2019, <\/span><\/i>and <\/span>I\u2019m a Man.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0 He grew tired of being pigeon-holed as \u2018the white Ray Charles\u2019 and when he announced he was leaving, Spencer Davis was one unhappy drummer.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dave Mason\u2019s mother knew he was fascinated by music and started his journey soon after she and Dave had returned from visiting his older sister in San Diego, California in 1958.\u00a0 She bought him a Mayfair guitar which he used to start mimicking his first guitar idol, Hank Marvin of the Shadows.\u00a0 There were no lessons involved, just young Dave trying to sort things out.\u00a0 He listened to music constantly and even took to bringing his guitar to school.\u00a0 Figuring out guitar parts was a bit easier with a turntable that could be slowed down from 33 RPM to 16 RPM.\u00a0 Eventually, bands like The Ventures, The Hunters, The Outlaws, Johnny and the Hurricanes, and guitarist Duane Eddy would enter the picture.\u00a0 As Dave says in his book <\/span>Only You Know and I Know <\/span><\/i>(Dave Mason & Chris Epting, 2024, DTM Entertainment), \u201cI had found my passion, and I was going to let it flow through me like a river.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The inevitable first band the sixteen year old Mason began was The Jaguars.\u00a0 \u201cWe were actually good enough to score paying gigs, which, as a young teenager in Worcester, meant we played weddings and a lot of pub dates,\u201d he recalled.\u00a0 He would have been content to remain an instrumental guitar player but to keep getting gigs, it became necessary to recreate the current hits and by the 1960s.\u00a0 That meant singing, not just surf music needed to be on their set list.\u00a0 Mason continued, \u201cI never intended to be front-and-center on stage.\u00a0 I just wanted to play my guitar and jam with my friends.\u00a0 None of us could really sing, but we learned as we went along.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The band fizzled after a year or so but Mason was all in on his future.\u00a0 He and Jim Capaldi, the drummer and lead singer for The Sapphires became friends.\u00a0 Dave landed a Saturday gig at the Gaumont Theater, the local venue where he had seen the Rolling Stones and The Beatles perform.\u00a0 He would DJ for the kids, a movie would play, and then the day would end with a live band.\u00a0 With friends Gordon Jackson on guitar and David Meredith on bass, Mason and Capaldi formed The Hellions.\u00a0 They played locally but made a few trips to London where they landed a management deal with Morris King.\u00a0 King\u2019s connections got them even better gigs.\u00a0 Mason counts himself lucky to have spent his formative years as an artist in \u2018swinging London\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Hanging out at a popular club called the Elbow Room, Capaldi and Mason got to know Steve Winwood and his friend, flutist Chris Wood.\u00a0 When The Hellions ran out of steam, Dave played for Don Covey for a while and when work with him got sparse, he signed on as a roadie with the Spencer Davis Group.\u00a0 He surprised himself at a gig outside London when Winwood was a no show and Spencer Davis talked Dave into singing and playing in place of Winwood.\u00a0 At first, Dave was reluctant, but Davis insisted, telling him, \u201cCome on, I know you can do it.\u201d\u00a0 With that bit of confidence propping him up, he did the show:\u00a0 \u201cI got up on stage.\u00a0 I sang the hits, and it was incredibly fun and hugely empowering.\u00a0 Once I got started, the music took over;\u00a0 it carried me.\u00a0 I learned the truth of the magic of music that night and have never taken it for granted since.\u00a0 It was a tremendous turning point in my life.\u00a0 At some point you have to take action to pursue your dreams,\u00a0 You can\u2019t just wish things into existence.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It wasn\u2019t long after Mason played this fill in gig and did some background vocals on the SDG\u2019s three biggest hits.\u00a0 The Dave, Jim, Steve and Chris club continued chumming around The Elbow Room and got together to jam a bit.\u00a0 Though they hadn\u2019t played anywhere, Capaldi came up with the name for the band when he and Mason stepped out of an afternoon movie matinee. When they saw all the cars going by, he said, \u201cTraffic,\u201d and that was it.\u00a0 They caught an unintended break when they went to see The Who at the Malvern Winter Gardens outside of Worcester in March of 1967.\u00a0 It was a full house, the band\u2019s equipment was set up, but The Who didn\u2019t show.\u00a0 The crowd was getting restless so one of the roadies suggested Mason and Capaldi take the stage.\u00a0 Dave described the scene:\u00a0 \u201cWith Jim on Keith Moon\u2019s drums and me on Pete Townsend\u2019s guitar, all we were missing was a bass.\u00a0 I announced to the crowd that The Who weren\u2019t coming and asked if anybody played a bass guitar.\u00a0 Sure enough, somebody took me up on my offer and climbed on stage.\u00a0 We played a few songs and, in tribute to the missing Who, smashed Townsend\u2019s guitar and, with the help from the crew, kicked Keith Moon\u2019s drums all over the stage.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Steve Winwood was already a known commodity and had close ties with Chris Blackwell and Island Records.\u00a0 Blackwell found them a run down place outside of London called Berkshire Cottage where they set about discovering what kind of band they would be.\u00a0 With no electricity, indoor toilet, or hot water, it was a rustic setting in a beautiful scenic area of Aston Tirrold very near some ancient Stone Age and Bronze Age monuments.\u00a0 With the aid of a 100 watt generator, they began making serious music.\u00a0 Capaldi supplied lyrics and Winwood set them to music.\u00a0 As Mason tells it, \u201cWinwood was the magnet that drew us together and the glue that kept us together – at least for a time.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0During this formative phase, Mason also began taking a stab at writing songs.\u00a0 From spring to summer of 1967, there were rumors that something was going on and that Steve Winwood was involved.\u00a0 With Traffic not yet in the public eye, the air of mystery about this new band grew.\u00a0 It is doubtful any advertising campaign could have broken the band more effectively than having them NOT be hyped before they had music on vinyl.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Traffic had a terrific coming out party with their debut album, 1967s <\/span>Dear Mr. Fantasy.\u00a0 <\/span><\/i>The rock star life was just about everything one hears about bands on the road.\u00a0 Mason posts quite a bit about his family on Facebook so I am not going to dwell on that here. \u00a0 Mason says he is a private person by nature, but the foreword to his book connects some of the dots:\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve been married four times and divorced three.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been bankrupt twice.\u00a0 I\u2019ve outlived my son, gone through three earthquakes, and – two weeks after moving to St. Thomas – was hit by Hurricane Hugo.\u00a0 I\u2019ve also overcome years of substance abuse and have definitely been overserved.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Setting off on his own in 1968 took him down many more paths than he could have imagined.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t, however, the first time he had been without a band.\u00a0 Right after their first album was released, he decided the private part of him wasn\u2019t ready for \u2018fame\u2019.\u00a0 Mason did the unthinkable – he walked away from Traffic.\u00a0 After causing his bandmates some anxiety and making headlines in the music and popular press (fame seemed to have found him anyway), he went to a Greek island alone.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It was during this period he penned his most well known song, <\/span>Feelin\u2019 Alright?<\/span><\/i>\u00a0 The \u2018?\u2019 was intentional because he wasn\u2019t feeling that way.\u00a0 Dave (and apparently most of the rock stars in London) were head over heels for the same woman (purportedly the subject matter for the Stones <\/span>Ruby Tuesday<\/span><\/i>).\u00a0 When he got over her and got his head together, he called the Island Records office to see if they could buy his empty pocketbook a plane fare.\u00a0 Back in England, he collected enough royalties to make his way to New York where he found his former bandmates short of songs for their second album.\u00a0 \u201cI have five ready to go,\u201d he told them – one of which was <\/span>Feelin\u2019 Alright?<\/span><\/i> \u00a0 The album and single soon climbed the charts and then the meeting where he was fired took place.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0About that meeting at Chris Blackwell\u2019s home in 1968, Dave was gob-smacked. \u00a0 Capaldi, Wood, and Winwood were seated on three chairs with Blackwell standing to the side and Mason\u2019s seat opposite the three.\u00a0 Capaldi and Wood gazed at their shoes when Dave asked, \u201cWhat\u2019s going on guys? \u00a0 Winwood spoke up, \u201cDave, I don\u2019t like the way you write, I don\u2019t like the way you sing, I don\u2019t like the way you play.\u00a0 And . . .we don\u2019t want you in the band anymore.\u201d\u00a0 With that, the discussion ended and he got back into his car and drove home.\u00a0 The shock of the moment wore off and made Mason more determined than ever to stubbornly continue making music:\u00a0 \u201cHad I just been fired?\u00a0 Or liberated?\u201d\u00a0 Checking out his discography, I would have to say it was the latter.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Freedom from Traffic allowed Mason to get acquainted with alot of other musicians, like Jimi Hendrix.\u00a0 He became a good friend of Jimi\u2019s and played on <\/span>Electric Ladyland <\/span><\/i>tracks <\/span>All Along the Watchtower <\/span><\/i>and <\/span>Crosstown Traffic<\/span><\/i>.\u00a0 He toured with Fleetwood Mac after the departure of Lindsay Buckingham but says it wasn\u2019t a comfortable fit as it took three guitarists to replace the genius of Buckingham\u2019s work.\u00a0 Mason also toured with Delany and Bonnie and was a member of Derek and the Dominos \u2018for about twenty minutes\u2019.\u00a0 When the offer of a solo record contract proved too good to pass up, we left Derek and the Ds behind.\u00a0 Check the boxes of other musicians Dave worked with and you will find George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Cass Elliot, Eric Clapton, David Crosby, and Graham Nash among many others.\u00a0 The long list of his solo and collaboration credits far outshines his time with Traffic.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0How are the prospects for a reunion with his old Traffic band mates?\u00a0 Jim Capaldi died in 2005 and Chris Wood\u00a0 has been gone since 1983 after battling drink, drugs, depression before finally succumbing to pneumonia.\u00a0 That would leave Steve Winwood as the only choice for Traffic to take to the stage in any original form.\u00a0 After a Winwood show in 2017, Mason and Steve met backstage and with a hug, the past animosity seemed to melt away.\u00a0 During conversation, Dave suggested they give the fans a treat and recruit a few other musicians (like Dave Matthews who had inducted Traffic to the Rock \u2018n\u2019 Roll Hall of Fame in 2004) and take the music of Traffic on the road.\u00a0 Steve confirmed that on his deathbed, Jim Capaldi had asked Winwood to never tour as Traffic again – and he had agreed.\u00a0 Winwood seemed intrigued by the idea of calling such an outing \u2018Traffic Jam\u2019 or some such, but it was left as unfinished business.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mason says he never really understood why Capaldi would ask Winwood to not use the Traffic name anymore.\u00a0 If anything, it is the fans who miss out on an opportunity:\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s true that hearing music from original members holds a magic on its own,\u00a0 Yet, as much as it\u2019s about people, it\u2019s about the music, if not more so.\u00a0 The moment we unleashed our songs into the world, we surrendered ownership in the more mystical interpretations of the word – and Traffic was all about mystery.\u201d\u00a0 He goes on to say he was hesitant about even mentioning the,\u00a0 \u201cYou promised Capaldi\u201d episode, but concluded, \u201cI am choosing to include it because I don\u2019t want to go to my grave with a heart hardened by disappointment.\u00a0 I choose, rather, to want all of us to be feeling alright, no question mark in sight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ironically, Dave Mason was set to go out on what was billed as the \u2018Traffic Jam Tour\u2019 this fall.\u00a0 It was touted as being a show that would contain many deep cuts from his career, but no mention was made of Winwood taking part.\u00a0 Unfortunately, doctors discovered Mason has a serious heart ailment and recommended he not go on the road. \u00a0 There has been no word about the surgery he was scheduled to undergo, but he assured fans it is a treatable ailment and he will be back on the road in 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The same year Traffic was inducted into the Hall of Fame, Mason and his partner, Ravi Sawhney founded a new electric guitar company known as RKS Guitars.\u00a0 Sawhney is an interesting fellow in his own right and wears many hats (musician, producer, collaborator, guitarist) and might make a good future FTV subject.\u00a0 The guitars themselves have raised a few eyebrows with none other than Keith Richards exclaiming, \u201cA (expletive deleted) device, old boy.\u00a0 It sounds great!! Ronnie Wood\u2019s rocking too!!\u201d\u00a0 The RKS website states the company was founded on, \u201cReinventing the electric guitar to drive sustainability and increase usability for the optimal playing experience.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The RKS designer\u2019s friendship with Dave Mason seems to fit in with his other collaborations with charitable groups and environmental causes.\u00a0 The \u2018sustainability\u2019 part of their mission is to use composite materials to remove the need for exotic tonewoods used for many high end guitars.\u00a0 The RKS website goes on to explain, \u201c[Use of exotic woods] is responsible for much of the deforestation [particularly in areas like the Amazon] by collaborating initially with Eastman Plastics and later Weyerhaeuser to utilize there Tenite, a material made from the wood pulp of farmed cottonwood treas and scrap wood bi-products.\u201d\u00a0 Dave Mason isn\u2019t \u2018just a guitar player\u2019 as he first aspired to be.\u00a0 Perhaps the best way to describe his life is simply to call him \u2018a Renaissance Man\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dave Mason translocated to the United States in 1971.\u00a0 In his time in America, he has donated his time and talents to many philanthropic endeavors.\u00a0 IN 2005, he became an official supporter of Little Kids Rock, a non-profit organization that provides free musical instruments and lessons to children in American schools.\u00a0 He is also a founding member of Yoga Blue, another non-profit that supports those recovering from substance abuse and other self-destructive disorders.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mason and Ted Knapp founded Rock Our Vets, an all-volunteer 501(c)3 charity also supported by many other musicians.\u00a0 ROV helps military veterans and the families of law enforcement and firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty.\u00a0 The charity provides food and clothing to homeless veterans, laptop computers for veterans who wish to continue their education, as well as suicide prevention efforts.\u201d\u00a0 As I said, \u2018Renaissance Man\u2019 fits Dave Mason to a \u2018T\u2019.\u00a0 We wish him well as he recovers from his heart issues and look forward to him being on the road again in 2025.\u00a0 Maybe he will make a return trip to the Calumet Theater (a previous show I unfortunately had to miss).\u00a0 Knowing what I know from his book, it surely would be an interesting show.<\/span><\/p>\n Top Piece Video:\u00a0 Dave Mason fronting the large post induction jam at the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame – he was going to skip the even when Steve Winwood’s management stiff armed him from joining his former bandmates at the show, but Paul Schaffer reminded him about the big jam – “We plan on playing ‘Feelin’ Alright’<\/em> was all it took.\u00a0 This was the same jam where Prince stole the show soloing during\u00a0While My Guitar Gently Weeps.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dave Mason was feeling anything but \u2018alright\u2019 in December of 1968.\u00a0 He was summoned to \u2018another band meeting of Traffic\u2019, the band he had cofounded with Steve Winwood, Chris Wood, and Jim Capaldi.\u00a0 The meeting was held at the home of their manager Chris Blackwell who was also the head of their record label, 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