Dave Mason, the English guitarist and songwriter who co-founded Traffic and wrote the classic-rock standard "Feelin' Alright?," died Sunday at his home in Gardnerville, Nevada. He was 79. Mason's version of the song, originally recorded with Traffic in 1968, became a staple of classic-rock radio and was covered by more than two dozen artists including Joe Cocker, the Jackson 5 and Grand Funk Railroad.

After leaving Traffic, Mason launched a successful solo career with three gold albums, including his 1970 debut "Alone Together." His single "We Just Disagree" reached No. 12 on the Billboard chart in 1977. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 for his work with Traffic. Mason also worked as a session musician, contributing to the Rolling Stones' "Street Fighting Man," Jimi Hendrix's version of "All Along the Watchtower," and George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass."

His career was marked by several struggles, including unfavorable recording deals, two bankruptcies and multiple lawsuits. In the 1970s, he battled his former label Blue Thumb in court over ownership of his master recordings, and in 2011 he joined other artists to sue Universal Music Group over digital music royalties. Despite these challenges, his songwriting legacy endures through recordings that continue to resonate with audiences decades later.