Dave Mason with Chris Epting
A co-founder of the legendary band Traffic, Dave Mason's musical path started strong and only grew more significant over time. In addition to his renowned work as a revered guitar player and singer-songwriter (who penned "Feelin' Alright," one of rock's most-covered anthems, when he was only 21), Mason has appeared on some of the most acclaimed recordings in music history, including The Spencer Davis Group's "Gimme Some Lovin,'" George Harrison's All Things Must Pass album, The Rolling Stones' "Street Fighting Mam" and close friend Jimi Hendrix's classic "All Along the Watchtower." After leaving Traffic, Dave's popularity exploded with the release of his debut solo album, Alone Together, igniting one of the most successful careers of the 1970s-marked by sell-out performances at Madison Square Garden and requests from artists such as Paul McCartney, who recruited Dave to play guitar on Wings' #1 hit "Listen to What the Man Said." But the triumphs didn't come without hurdles. By the mid-1970s, cocaine and a seemingly endless touring schedule began to take their toll.
Workmanlike in his dedication, however, the determined craftsman never gave up. Here, for the first time, Dave shares some of the great untold tales in rock and roll-his complicated relationship with Steve Winwood, his wild legal episodes with record companies, his tenure in Fleetwood Mac, his battle with addiction and the loss of a child, and his eventual induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He dives deep on the music, from "World in Changes" to "We Just Disagree," and shares inside stories featuring a cast of characters that includes Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Cass Elliot, Delaney and Bonnie, Eric Clapton, and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
Dave Mason's reputation as a "quiet giant" has long been one of music's great mysteries. Now, one of rock's true heroes finally shares his colorful, unique, and ultimately triumphant journey through a life in music.