Santa Cruz proclaims "Oliver Tree Day" honoring the late singer

Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley has proclaimed June 29, 2026, "Oliver Tree Day" in the California city where the eccentric electronic and pop singer grew up, marking what would have been his 33rd birthday. Signed and sealed, the proclamation retroactively formalizes a birthday his admirers had already spent in mourning: Oliver Tree Nickell died on June 14 at 32, after two helicopters collided in midair over Rio de Janeiro.

The proclamation credits Santa Cruz's "culture, extreme sport community and culture, and creative spirit" as influences on his work, and cites his reach as a musician, songwriter, actor, filmmaker and visual artist. It adds that his success "has brought positive attention to Santa Cruz and serves as an inspiration to upcoming artists and creators."

It also preserves the message he left fans: "No matter how strange you look, no matter how ugly you feel, you are beautiful."

City officials also recognized the foundation launched in his name, Dr. Oliver Tree's Extremely Epic Art Grant for Baby Geniuses, which follows a plan he wrote into his will to put his wealth back into the artist community. The proclamation says the organization will fund emerging artists in music, installation and performing arts "in perpetuity."

The proclamation caps a summer of remembrance in his hometown. Friends, family and fans filled UC Santa Cruz's Quarry Amphitheater for a Celebration of Life at the venue where he had been set to perform later that month.

The honor joins other recent tributes tracked on award watch, part of a summer that has kept Oliver Tree's name in electronic and pop headlines even after his death.