Nathaniel Rateliff Shares ‘Willie’s Birthday Song’ For Willie Nelson

Nathaniel Rateliff shared “Willie’s Birthday Song” in celebration of Willie Nelson‘s birthday on April 29. The all-star tribute is part of Rateliff’s The Marigold Project helping community and nonprofit organizations striving for economic and social justice and will benefit Nelson’s Farm Aid as well as StrongHearts Native Helpline.

StrongHearts “confronts issues of domestic violence in the Native American community,” a statement read. “We are honored to be chosen as a beneficiary of this special project,” StrongHearts Director Lori Jump said. Farm Aid’s “mission is to keep family farmers on their land.”

“Farm Aid is honored to be a beneficiary of this song to celebrate Farm Aid’s founder, Willie Nelson,” Farm Aid’s executive director Carolyn Mugar said. “We’re grateful that Nathaniel Rateliff and his foundation, The Marigold Project, are part of the Farm Aid family. The work they do to support so many communities and advance racial and social justice is critical, especially in these times.”

For the star-studded birthday song, Rateliff tapped Neslon family members and longtime collaborators Bobbie Nelson (Willie’s sister) on piano and Mickey Raphael on harmonica. The tune also features Willie’s sons Lukas and Micah on backing vocals as well vocals from Matthew Logan Vasquez, Nikki Lane and Courtney Marie Andrews. Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats members Patrick Meese, Mark Shusterman, Jeff Dazey, Jonathan Tyler and Matt Pynn also contributed to the track. All the musicians filmed their parts from home and the footage will feature in a music video directed by Rett Rogers that will come out on Willie’s birthday, April 29.

“Willie’s Birthday Song” will also arrive on a 7-inch vinyl later this summer along with a duet from Rateliff and Nelson. The song, which Rateliff debuted with Raphael during Willie’s Come & Toke It livestream 420 celebration, is available to stream. Listen to it below: