Carson Tahoe Health honored Rock & Roll Hall of Fame musician and Northern Nevada resident Dave Mason, who passed away in April 2026 at the age of 79, by dedicating one of its “Vehicles of Change” mobile outreach vehicles in recognition of his legacy and support of youth mental health.
The ceremony Sunday, held at Nashville Social Club in Carson City, brought musicians, fans, friends and family members to the vehicle dedication and tribute to Mason, a Carson Valley resident along with wife Winifred Wilson. The pioneering singer-songwriter and founding member of the band Traffic, Mason was renowned for his fluid acoustic-electric guitar playing and soulful voice.
His legacy spans timeless solo hits like We Just Disagree, iconic compositions, Feelin’ Alright? and legendary collaborations. Among the bands he toured with was The Doobie Brothers, who have brought Mason’s timeless catalog in which the band has frequently performed.
For more than six decades, Mason inspired audiences around the world through music. From his early years as a founding member of Traffic to collaborations with some of the most influential artists in rock history, Mason’s career demonstrated the power of creativity, self-expression and perseverance, all values at the heart of the “Vehicles of Change” initiative.
Among those making appearances Sunday at the dedication to honor Mason’s legacy were Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons of The Doobie Brothers and Chris Epting, best selling rock memoirist and co-author with Dave Mason on his autobiography Only You Know & I Know.
Opening the ceremony and serving as emcee was Kitty McKay, Vice President, Community and Patient Experience at Carson Tahoe Health, as well as owner of Nashville Social Club with husband John Procaccini, both close friends with Mason and Wilson.
There was a special live acoustic musical tribute to Mason by longtime band members Johne Sambataro, Ray Cardwell and Ivan Pulley who performed “Bird on the Wing.”
Also during the ceremony, Carson Tahoe Board Chair Brian Duffrin read a presentation on behalf of Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo, recognizing Mason’s legacy and community impact.
There was a presentation of the Grateful Heart Award that went to Dr. Rau, Dr. Petti and Dr. Siddiqui in honor of their extraordinary care and compassion to Mason. The presentation ended with the Sound Ideas vehicle dedication and commemorative art work to Wilson.
The ceremony was followed by a “Feelin’ Alright” concert.
The event also recognized the Dave Mason Legacy Fund, established by Mason’s family and wife, Winifred, to advance Carson Tahoe Health’s trailblazing “Vehicles of Change” initiative, which provides prevention-focused youth mental health programming throughout Northern Nevada. During the ceremony, Mason was named “Champion of Creativity” for the inspiration his lifetime offers.
Carson Tahoe Health dedicated its Sound Ideas outreach vehicle, a mobile stage and podcast studio, as tribute to Dave Mason’s lifelong impact on music and support of Carson Tahoe’s mission.
Through music, storytelling and hands-on communication experiences, the vehicle provides crucial life skills and a platform for youth to discover and strengthen their own voices.
As mental health outcomes worsen across the nation, Nevada remains ranked last in the country, with high rates of depression, anxiety, suicidality, and substance abuse amongst people of all ages. Half of these conditions start before age 14, making prevention the greatest opportunity for impactful intervention before kids begin to struggle.
Sound Ideas is one of four mobile units in the Vehicles of Change program. Together, they bring interactive programming centered on sound, food, art and movement directly to schools and community centers across Northern Nevada, at no cost. This play-based programming develops lifelong skills for resilience, coping and empathy, while working to reverse the broader youth mental health crisis.
