Remembering Oliver Tree After the Singer’s Death in Brazil

A world tour, a new album, and more concerts on the horizon. Then, in an instant, everything changed.

Singer Oliver Tree died Sunday, June 14, after two helicopters collided in Rio de Janeiro, according to CNN Brazil. He was 32.

The artist, known for hits including “Life Goes On” and “Miss You,” was one of six people killed in the crash.

The Civil Police of the State of Rio de Janeiro confirmed the accident in a statement obtained and reported by PEOPLE.

“The investigation is ongoing at the 42nd Police Precinct. A forensic examination was conducted at the scene, and agents are awaiting the report from the Center for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents,” police said.

“The bodies of the six victims will undergo forensic examination for identification, which will be compared to data in the records of the Air Operations Center,” the statement continued.

Authorities are still working to determine what caused the crash.

According to CNN Brazil, five people were aboard one helicopter, while the pilot was the only person in the second aircraft.

The other victims were identified as Lucas Vignale, Gaspar Prim, Lucas Brito Chaves, Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac, according to CNN Brazil.

Prim, 23, was an Argentine YouTuber who created content under the name Gaspi.

The Associated Press reported that there were no survivors. Rio de Janeiro’s Military Fire Department said one of the helicopters crashed into the parking lot of a car dealership and burst into flames, according to AP.

Additional tour dates included stops in Spain, Austria, the United States and China.

The singer had also recently released his latest studio album, Love You Madly Hate You Badly, on April 24.

Before that, he released Ugly Is Beautiful in 2020, followed by Cowboy Tears and Alone in a Crowd.

Just weeks before his death, Tree spoke openly about what he wanted to happen to his wealth after he died.

Dressed as Shrek during an interview, the musician said he had created a foundation to support artists.

“I don’t believe that any of the wealth, or things I get from it, are mine,” he explained. “So when I die, my will is set up that no one is going to get a penny. If I have a wife or kids, they’re not getting a f—ing penny. I’m getting my kids through college, but they’re not going to have silver spoons.”

“The idea is that when I die, all the money is going to go back to artists,” Tree continued. “I’ve set up a foundation called Dr. Oliver Tree’s Art Grants for Baby Geniuses, and it’s set up so that the interest generated from my music. But there’s room for other money, because when I die, my art will have residual value and will probably be worth more than it is now. It will finally appreciate. My stupid f—ing videos. My stupid f—ing songs.”

Tree later explained that the foundation would focus on helping artists create new work.

“I don’t believe in money going to education,” he explained. “I want it to go to the physical making of art. You’re not allowed to buy equipment with the money. You’re not allowed to go get education and schooling with the money. You have to physically hire people to physically produce stuff — and you’re allowed to rent equipment to make things.”

He added that a committee would decide who receives the money and said he hoped the foundation would continue “for a hundred years.”