by Hal Saylor and Lonnie Morris
compiled by Greg Allard
David Mason, not to be confused with the Dave Mason of Traffic fame, has reportedly died in Tallahassee, Fla. on September 13. He was 63. Although he was a fixture in the music scene for many years in Gainesville, his talents and ambitions were too big for just one town. Throughout the course of his career, he played for the likes of Joe Walsh, Elton John, Todd Rundgren and many others. Gainesville musician Hal Saylor, who had a good deal of association with him, remembers.
Hal Saylor: David Mason was such a great organ player. He was influenced by the great Hammond organ players of the ‘60s, including Jimmy Smith and Jack McDuff. He told me stories of sitting for hours and copping Jimmy Smith solos, note for note as a kid.
He was always on the cutting edge when it came to his keyboard gear– always finding a way to procure the latest technological innovation in the gear he possessed. I know he played with many groups in Gainesville in the ‘60s and ‘70s including a band with Tom Petty, that I cannot remember the name of, and the successful early ‘70s southeastern US touring R&B road band Blacklash.
He then got the call from Todd Rundgren and co-wrote and performed on the highly successful art rock album Todd Rundgren’s Utopia. He toured in support of that album with a clear plexiglass Hammond B3 that was supposed to be quite an eye-opening stage prop.
A little later, he performed in Joe Walsh’s band and recorded a really great live album “You Can’t Argue with a Sick Mind.” He told stories of participating in Walsh’s infamous road antics that got him kicked out of and sued by hotels across the world, including the time Walsh hauled a fire-hose out from the emergency fire cabinet, stuck it under the door of the drummer, turned it on and soaked four floors of some upscale hotel, causing thousand of dollars in damages. He had a gold album on his wall with that one.
After that, he was a first-call touring B3 player, through the connections of Gainesville’s Bernie Leadon and Don Felder, for people like Jackson Browne, Melanie, etc.
He had a picture of himself and Elton John sharing the same piano bench and playing two on the same piano. He met Elton in LA and Elton was blown away with his playing. Elton took David to England and did a brief UK tour with him. Then, I think, the death of David’s daughter brought him back to GV.
He played with just about every jazz/blues groove-oriented group here in the ‘80s, including a groove band called Collage. I played every Monday night with him at the Blue Monday Jam at Richenbachers in the mid-late-‘80s, and he recorded a lot of midi stuff of which I collaborated on.
The WRUF-TV News used his piece for a few years as their main music theme, called 5 Alive. David then moved to Tallahassee and played on a regular basis with George Clinton.
He is survived by his son, Brook, of Newberry.
He was the most gentle soul I have ever met. RIP David Roger Mason.
Lonnie Morris: When David was in our band, Styrofoam Soule, I found David to be extremely talented and exciting as a musician. Around the time David played with us we probably had changed the name to The Steve Morris Band. On You Tube, are about 20 recordings we did live in 1974 at Perry, FL with David on B3 and Fender Rhodes.
He had a great personality, a very nice person, had a good sense of humor. His playing had a great groove with a soulful and jazzy feel but he fit in rock music well too. I feel honored that he played with us and am sorry to hear he has 
passed.
Loved David very much we played together recorded together and did a few things we weren’t suppose to do together as well. He was a True talent! I will miss him along with many others. Markman
I photographed Todd backstage a decade ago. He was aware that former Utopia member Dave Mason(1973-1974)(not the Traffic Dave) was in the audience. David was also a member of the Joe Walsh band. Todd and Dave had not seen each other and Todd said he did not want to see anyone backstage until he saw David. This was the Tallahassee Moon. I went to the audience to retrieved David. It had only been Todd, Royston Langdon of Spacehog(husband of Liv Tyler), and myself. I have the only photographs of their meeting. Todd asked David where he went after he left the band. Dave said, “Jamaica”. I asked for two more photos and left. It was personal. I will miss David and thankful for the times I was able to see him.
Sure would like to see those photos Rick. This article says “reportedly” but I can’t seem to find any reports or an obit. Can someone share the links?
We interviewed Dave 4 years ago and he was a super nice guy …
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/runt/2009/04/08/rundgren-radio-with-david-mason
A excellent musician, a great freind. I enjoyed the stories he told. I enjoyed the music that he composed when we worked a Liberty Comm. He had a great personality. I will miss him.
My mom, Pat Wilson, was very close to David. We travelled to Tally with Brook, to get as much of his stuff as possible. Mom has several CDs including some of Collage, if anyone would like to make copies. My mom spoke with David every week and misses him so much. If anyone would like to give her a call to reminisce or listen to some of his last recordings, please get in touch. She has not gotten through all the CDs yet and finds new stuff every day.
Sally, I will be coming to Gainesville for Thanksgiving & I told your Mom I would come help her. I hope she is hanging in there. I’ll give her a call soon. My Mom, Bea Crawford, & I are going to take her out to lunch. As you know, my family has been close to David almost all of his life. He was my boyfriend when I was 13 & he also played in The Sundowners with my brother, Robert Crawford. We have remained friends throughout the years. He was a wonderful friend & we miss him greatly. I look forward to meeting you when I come to Gainesville. Say hi to Pat for me. Peace.
Sally,
You STOLE EVERYTHING of my dad’s that you put in the U-HAUL truck and took home with your crackhead friends. You guys were going to have a yard sale and give me some of the money remember? You are also mistaken about your mom Pat Wilson talking to my dad every week, they had not spoke but maybe twice since the late 1980’s. Your mom STOLE ALL of his music and tapes from his house and I really would like those back! I never thought she would do that to me but sadly she did. She makes copies for ANYONE EXCEPT ME HIS SON!!! And she did not ask for my permission to do any of that! I let her borrow them all to make HERSELF copies and NEVER SEE HER AGAIN!
I knew that I should never should have trusted a junky like you Sally, but your mom seemingly is just as bad and crazy and sleazy! You should not ever steal other people’s things that do not belong to you, especially your friends important things! YOU KNOW BETTER BUT YOU STILL STEAL PEOPLE’S STUFF. That is why your son Austin stopped talking to you even years back when you were free and why you are STILL sitting in PRISON!
I really liked you a lot when I was a kid SALLY BUT YOU WERE ALWAYS STUPIDLY DEFLECTED MEAN AND HURTFUL JUST LIKE YOUR CRAZY MOM.
I will let mom know. She will be pleased to see you and to share some of the memories.
My number is 352-258-8726 and is usually the best way to reach me.
When David’s life partner of more than twenty years, Brenda Neil, died unexpectedly at the end of May, David was unable to overcome his grief and died September 13 of anorexia and depression according to the death certificate. While David’s playing was memorable, he also wrote a lot of great songs.
– Patricia Mason
I learned of David’s passing about a year ago. It hurt. I was great friends with David circa 1960-1964. David was a sweet kid. I use to go over to his house on 10th Ave. in Gainesville and he would play the B3 for me. I was always mesmerized. I am proud to have known this cat. He could not have been a nicer human being. RIP dear old friend.
i played bass with david mason in a club called moms kitchen in gainesville , he was a great player sorry he passed, i would like to have played more with him, about 1971, rip
just want to say thank you Hal and Lonnie for caring and writing this wonderful memorial and everyone remembering and loving him. It is so nice of you!
Sorry for the extremely very late thank you.
I miss him so much!
Even his annoying girlfriend that he killed himself over, miss her too !
I don’t miss the girlfriend’s mom and sisters that STOLE all of his money!
Just now able to listen to his music again without crying.
I miss his crazy jokes the most. He was a super funny guy!
I am very glad I gave him my digital Yamaha 4-track and brought him into digital world back in 2001 when my baby was born. You should of seen his face! He was still only used to those giant clunky Tascam reel to reels that lose fidelity.
Brook, please contact me, doug at rundgrenradio dot com. Thanks.
I have no souvenirs sorry buddy!
All my dad’s stuff EVERYTHING was ruined from black mold and orange rust from him running the A/C really cold. EVERYTHING ELSE was ALL stolen. Clint Tyrell in Archer stole the only gold record he ever got back in the early 1980’s it was from Joe Walsh. Clint also has the old Todd Rundgren era psychedelic B-52 with the plexiglass diamond too. He promised to at least give back my dad’s gold record the first time my dad was M.I.A. and I had assumed dad was dead way back in 1989-1992 when he disappeared back then! Clint stood me up and never did give it back! I talked to him right after dad died and he was very cold to me. He said he did not want a blank spot on the wall! He also wanted a lot of money for it! He said he would put me in his will hahaha! EVERYONE that has said they put me in their will LIED HAHAHA! I have been totally cheated out of every inheritance I ever had haha! Both of my parents GAVE Clint lots of very valuable 1960’s rock and roll and counterculture memorabilia since he was a collector. BUT MY DAD DID NOT GIVE HIM THE GOLD RECORD OR THE B-52! Clint is a sleazy liar and a NOBODY TWO-BIT COKE DEALER surrounded by other people’s memories and I doubt he ever had any real intention of ever giving any of it back. Before he died my dad said Clint was a good guy and would definitely at least give back the gold record but I knew better and said no he won’t! My dad told me he would talk to him about it but even if he had Clint is a total sleaze crook and has no honor. Almost ALL of my dad’s friends were BASTARDS including his old music manager (he supposedly played for the yardbirds) that STOLE my dad’s two story house in 1989 (gave my dad nothing) and turned it into a BRIDGELIGHT CHURCH because he is such a CHRISTIAN and a PASTOR!
AGAIN I HAVE NOTHING NO SOUVENIRS !
So make your own memories!
Collectors are just fake posers anyway.
❤️
Just to be clear: Dad got the gold record from Joe Walsh in mid 1970’s from the live “So What” Tour and it was for “You Can’t Argue With A Sick Mind” album when it went gold right before Joe Walsh joined the Eagles. It is the only music of dad’s that I was really able to enjoy because Joe Walsh was/is so talented. The Todd Rundgren stuff and other stuff was obviously extremely good as well but just not always JAMMING like Joe Walsh. Who can listen to Dr. Seuss’s Time-Tables for over 30 minutes straight? Well I can gladly do it but most listeners prefer easy jams that don’t fly all over the place like Todd Rundgren’s “UTOPIA” that my dad helped write. i like it very much but they were obviously on a lot of speed with that album!
My Dad David R. Mason had very BAD MUSIC MANAGERS!
I mentioned already the music manager that STOLE my dad’s house and turned it into a church and made him disappear on a cruise ship playing gigs and made me homeless when I was a young teenager. I had a old mint condition blue 1980 Ford phone company truck that he stole too! One of my dad’s music managers was Jimmy Skaggs who was Ricky Skaggs brother or cousin! He was really bad to my little dad and bullied him. My dad even had to live with him in a small apartment for a long while! Jimmy Skaggs was/is a very large intimidating man with a face full of scars from running face first into barb-wire on a motorcycle. He came to a 24 hour diner I worked at and he demanded that I reach my dad for him to get in touch with him. I said my dad does not want to talk to your ugly ass and he acted weird because I swung a machete at him that i used for slaying rats in the kitchen while I said it! He again demanded i get in touch with my dad and tell him he was looking for him and that is when I stuck a fistfull of steak knives under his nose and said “NO”. I told him that I would scar the scars on his face if he did not get my drift and leave! The dumbass stayed and ordered breakfast and I am sure over 50% of it was spit from all of the kitchen workers. At the time I really had no idea how to reach my dad anyway.
I really loved my dad and all I wanted was to just be near him. Unfortunately his last girlfriend who died and it broke his heart ❤️ and caused him to die three months later was in prison for almost 20 years on a heroine possession charge when she was very young. And when she first met my dad at the methadone clinic back in the early 1990’s she had just got out of prison! So she did not trust anyone except my dad and stayed in the house 24-7 anchored to my dad and she still lived as if she was still locked up in prison until the day she died twenty years later! She would never let me be alone with my dad for even a minute! She barely let me even talk to him on the phone! Even though they lived in Tallahassee they would drive by my house in High Springs within a few blocks on the highway every month to go to her hepatitis doctor in Gainesville and they visited us maybe only three times he saw his grand baby! So after 1989 I was very estranged from my dad and if not for my constant efforts he would not have been in my life at all!
I remember being a baby in his studio in L.A. California and I would play right outside of the studio door so my dad had to trip over me and notice me for at least a moment. I would crawl in his studio and grab his feet and the sustain pedals to just touch him because I loved him so much and he would STOMP hard on my little hands until I moved them out of the way and yell, “shut the fuck up I am recording!”.
That is mostly why I gave him all my digital audio recording equipment after my first baby was born. I wanted to give my baby my 100% absolute full attention that I wanted from my dad and did not get. I was very close to my children until they were almost grown. Now they are grown I can’t even get them to sit down with me for just a meal and talk about the weather! They are not very close to me and it is not because of anything I did they just are different people with different life circumstances and experiences and I guess I have become just a boring old fuddy-duddy dad what can I say. It really saddens me that I don’t see them or hear from them very much but as long as everyone is happy everything is good! They would quickly come visit should they ever need some money.
EVERYONE IS VERY DIFFERENT AND LIFE IS VERY STRANGE!!!
DEATH IS OFTEN TIMES A MUCH NEEDED VACATION.