Diplo, Logan Paul Honor Oliver Tree at Santa Cruz Memorial

Views 9 Published by July 27, 2026

Friends and collaborators gathered Saturday at Santa Cruz's Quarry Amphitheater for a public Celebration of Life six weeks after the singer died in a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro at age 32.

Oliver Tree was remembered by friends, family and collaborators on Saturday, July 25, at a public Celebration of Life held in his native Santa Cruz, California, six weeks after the singer died in a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro at 32.

The ceremony at Santa Cruz’s Quarry Amphitheater reflected Tree’s surreal, absurdist sensibility. Three mannequins dressed as the singer — in his signature bright windbreakers, sunglasses, cowboy hats and blunt bowl cuts — were laid out in coffins in front of the stage.

Diplo and Logan Paul were among the speakers. Diplo called Tree “the coolest person he’d ever met.” Paul, a close friend, delivered a eulogy in Tree’s comedic spirit, saying Tree was “an adventurer with an incomparable zest for life and the ultimate ability to make anyone feel seen and heard.” Paul added: “Oliver is a generational artist whose legacy and music will last forever.”

Tree’s parents also addressed the crowd, saying their son would encourage others to “trust yourself, get off the couch, produce art, and it’s really important to get in there and get your hands dirty.” All proceeds benefited Dr. Oliver Tree’s Extremely Epic Grant for Baby Geniuses, a foundation launched by Tree’s estate in accordance with his will. In the months before his death, Tree had said he intended to leave his wealth to emerging artists.

Tree, born Oliver Tree Nickell, released four major-label studio albums through Atlantic Records: Ugly Is Beautiful (2020), Cowboy Tears (2022), Alone in a Crowd (2023) and Love You Madly Hate You Badly (2026). His debut entered the Billboard 200 at No. 14 and topped Billboard’s Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart. His single “Life Goes On” reached No. 7 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. His 2022 collaboration with Robin Schulz, “Miss You,” climbed to No. 4 on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs and earned a 2024 BRIT Award nomination for Best International Song.