Singer Oliver Tree’s body back in California after helicopter crash in Brazil

The body of singer Oliver Tree was back in California this weekend after he was listed as a passenger on a helicopter that crashed above Rio de Janeiro one week ago.

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His social media accounts on Sunday afternoon announced the return of his body after the June 14 collision of two helicopters, which killed all six people on board.

“Oliver is now back in California where he can finally rest,” the post said.

According to The Associated Press , police identified the five other people as Gaspar Prim Díaz, a popular Argentine YouTuber known as Gaspi; another Argentine, Lucas Vignale; and Brazilians Lucas Brito, Charles Marsillac and Alexandre Souza.

The cause of the collision was under investigation. The AP reported last week that authorities were investigating the possibility of human error by a pilot or air traffic controllers.

Tree, 32, had been performing in South America as part of a world tour. He had a show scheduled for June 6 in São Paulo, according to a schedule on his Facebook page .

The post Sunday thanked fans and supporters for an outpouring of devotion to the memory of the quirky and uplifting artist.

“The constant love, support and positivity is helping the family, friends and collaborators make it through these extremely difficult times,” it said.

Tree, whose real name was Oliver Tree Nickell, was from Santa Cruz. His father, Jesse Nickell, said he learned of his son’s death from a producer working on music with him in Brazil.

“Peace be with Oliver,” he said by text last week.

Tree was recognizable for his bright fashion, mullet haircut with prominent bangs, thin mustache and encouraging outlook. A motto on his Instagram account says, “No matter how strange you think you look, no matter how ugly you feel, you are beautiful.”

Tree also worked with marquee names in pop and electronic dance music. His biggest tracks were “Life Goes On,” which peaked at 71 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2022, and “Miss You,” with German musician Robin Schulz, which peaked at 84 on the chart the same year.

Tree’s influence spread beyond chart data, however, and tributes poured in far and wide following last week’s news that he was on the passenger list of one of the aircraft.

The post on his social media accounts said he had been working on an endowment that would produce a grant and that the plan would be moving forward.

“‘Dr. Oliver Tree’s Extremely Epic Grant For Baby Geniuses’ coming soon,” the post said. “We will make sure his wish comes to fruition so that more joy, love and art can be spread into the world, that was his final wish.”

Speaking on the “ Zack Sang Show ” on YouTube in April, Tree discussed the grant and said his music was likely to be more valued after he died.

“That’s when people appreciate you, when you’re not there anymore,” he said.

The Instagram statement offered some assurance.

“Your legacy will live on forever,” it said.