Dave Mason Announces Retirement After More Than 50 Years in Music

After an illustrious career spanning six decades, singer, songwriter, and guitarist Dave Mason has announced his retirement from touring. The 79-year-old musician canceled all his scheduled tour dates in June due to ongoing health concerns.

Mason had postponed several September 2024 shows following the discovery of an “urgent heart condition” during a routine medical checkup, which resulted in a hospital stay. Although he initially planned to reschedule those performances earlier this year, he ultimately decided to cancel them.

At the time of his June announcement, Mason was still recovering from a severe infection contracted in March. In his statement, he said, “With deep regret, I must cancel all tour dates for 2025 due to ongoing health issues stemming from the infection I had in March.”

Facing Health Challenges with Gratitude

Throughout his health struggles, Mason expressed profound gratitude toward those who supported him. “I’m incredibly grateful to my team of doctors—this has been challenging territory, to say the least,” he said. “A heartfelt thank you to all the fans, and to my family, band, agents, and the venues who’ve waited patiently and supported me throughout this journey.”

He added, “Your kind messages have lifted my spirits more than words can express. Recovery is a long road. My love for you all runs deep.”

Legacy and Upcoming Projects

Though Mason is stepping away from live performances, his creative output continues. A press release announcing his retirement revealed that Mason is working on a children’s book and plans to release a collection of unreleased recordings from his 60-year live career.

Mason’s final concert took place in August 2024 in Plainfield, Indiana, just a month before the discovery of his heart condition. That night, he performed classics such as Traffic’s “The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys” and “Dear Mr. Fantasy,” Blind Faith’s “Can’t Find My Way Home,” and a cover of Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower.”

In addition to his solo work—which includes the 1977 hit “We Just Disagree,” peaking at No. 12 on the charts—Mason was a founding member of Traffic and briefly played with Fleetwood Mac. A Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, he released his memoir Only You Know & I Know shortly before his 2024 tour cancellation, followed by his latest album, A Shade of Blues, released in March.