The Gazette newspaper, out of Colorado Springs, Colorado is reporting on the tragic death of blues guitarist John-Alex Mason at the young age of 35 years old. Mason had gone into the hospital for an out-patient procedure to remove cancerous tissue, and passed away from complications after the surgery.
Born in 1975 in Colorado Springs, Mason began singing in the church while a child, and later taught himself the guitar at the age of 13 years old. Influenced by Robert Johnson and the Delta blues, Mason first made a name for himself a decade ago when he won the 2001 Telluride Acoustic Blues Competition. He spent time in Memphis working street corners as a one man band, performing with a drum kit and a cigar-box guitar, and gradually added a Mississippi Hill Country influence to his sound.
Mason recorded his debut album, Walking Tracks, in 2000 and followed it with Mason and Hundt, a collaboration with fellow multi-instrumentalist Gerry Hundt, in 2002. Mason released his 6th album, Jook Joint Thunderclap, to widespread critical acclaim in early 2011. Mason had developed into a talented multi-instrumentalist himself, playing fiddle, mandolin, harmonica, djembe, and bolofon on Jook Joint Thunderclap as well as guitar, bass, and drums. The album also featured contributions from Hundt, brothers Cedric and Cody Burnside, Steve "Lightnin'" Malcolm, Lionel Young and, from Guinea, Fara Tolno (djembe), Fasinet Bangoura (bolofone), and Alya Sylla (djembe).
Mason was a familiar figure at blues festivals across the United States and Canada, performing both solo and with a four-piece band that often included Hundt, Young, and Tolno. His friendship with the Burnside brothers often led Mason to tour with the Burnside Exploration, and through his brief career the guitarist had the opportunity to perform with idols like B.B. King, John Mayall, and John Hammond. A bright young talent who brought a new vision and energy to the blues, John-Alex Mason will be missed by family, friends, and blues fans around the world.
John-Alex Mason photo courtesy Naked Jaybird Music
Comments
as the days pass, the loss deepens…don’t know what i would do without his music as some sort of salve for this painful feeling
My God. I just met him recently on the tour trail, and he gave me no indication he was even ill. What a lovely man. That’s really a loss! My heart goes out to his family, and they should please let me know if there is anything musical or material that I can do to help. Any memorial recordings being made? I’ll play harp, tambourine, anything.
Sincerely,
Watermelon Slim
John hired my Band to play his wedding .. it wasn’t that long ago .. have not seen him in ages .. lord what a shock .. such a talent ..this is overwhelingly sad news .. David Booker . Oct 2011 .
Such sad days.. A huge loss for us. My sincere condolences to his family and friends. RIP Mr. Mason and THANK YOU for your music x
I can’t believe this. I was just about to say he was the BEST blues man still alive since Honeyboy Edwards died and… he’s not. There aren’t any more.
What a tragic loss, I have been starting my shjow with John’s music since I first heard it back in 2008. He was a terrific talent and his new release is just sensational. I am sad that I never got to see him play live.
My warmest condolences to family and friends, RIP john, you will be missed.
The forst time I learned of the news about John-Alex my body was full of chills. This is too sad.
Prayers of comfort, healing and strength go out to his immediate family and baby Jack.
“Grief does bring healing but the feelings of the loss stay with us forever”. If one finds themselves crying, it is ok.
Crying times are growing times.
Aloha, dear John-Alex.
Will treasure having the opportunity to meet you always. It was a wonderful, special evening perfomance at George Fox in Oregon.
The feeling of missing you will be around always.
John-Alex no ka oi (the best of all).
Aloha and Mahalo to John-Alex.
So sorry to hear this news what a big heart and wonderful person John Alex was. Iv watch him grow as a musician though the years and was so proud to hear how well he was doing. I just cant believe this could happen to this sweet guy at a time that he should be on top of the world.
I just learned of John’s passing. We shared the bill with him just a few short months ago at this years Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale. Words cannot express my shock and sadness. So young, so full of promise. Jook Joint Thunderclap was one of my favorite releases this year…RIP John.
i have never heard him before but i saw a poster for him in kinfolks and wanted to check him out. i am fascinated and love his music, however im terribly shocked and sad to hear he passed away recently. what an awful thing. what a great mark to leave though. ill be listening to his music!
Very sad news. John was a regular visitor to Clarksdale to perform at the Juke Joint Fest and the King Biscuit, as I am myself, and over the years since we first met there in 2004 he has always been warm, generous and of course such a remarkable talent. Thank you John for all the wonderful music that you shared with me and everyone else in the global blues community. R.I.P.
John Alex was a compassionate, smart, caring person who’s life was taken at such a young age. The last time we saw him live was in Winter Park at the Cooper Creek Mall thurs. prior to Labor Day weekend 2011. He was the best entertainer who lived every day to the fullest. This is a tragic loss and he will be missed every day. God Bless his family and soon to be 2 kids.
Please tune-in to the Colorado Blues Society’s Inaugural John-Alex Mason Scholarship Fund Benefit Concert! Friday 12/2. 9P MST. krfcfm.org. Ronnie Shellist, Cassie Taylor, Jason Downing & Friends
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John-Alex was beloved and respected throughout the blues music community, and that was particularly true here in Colorado. Many of us have been looking for a way to honor his memory, and help continue the educational work he felt was so important.
As you may know, John-Alex took high school students from Colorado Springs to Mississippi on more than one occasion for extended field trips that sometimes included visiting Memphis and New Orleans.
The Colorado Blues Society, a 501-c-3 nonprofit organization, will use the money raised to send student-aged musicians from Colorado to workshops and seminars that will further their blues music (and cultural) education.
https://www.facebook.com/events/189511134465495/
Such sad news … just read it in Living Blues magazine. I remember John from his short time living in Charleston, SC. He played the Lowcountry Blues Cafe in Mt. Pleasant. He was an eager young guy trying to learn the blues. This is just tragic.
My family was fortunate enough to have John come to perform for us and our friends as part of funding parts of JJT. I was blown away to see he, Alya, Fara, and Lionel play such an amazing show in such an intimate setting. Hanging out with the guys afterwards was exciting and humbling. Everyone involved has such a great personality that it was a great joy to be there with them. Meeting Alya and Fara was a treat in and of itself. Watching Lionel play his electric violin like a guitar was very fun!
Since that day i’ve always thought of making that happen again.
This is a terrible shame for the music world.