Watch Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle and More Cover Tom Petty’s ‘Refugee’
Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle and others joined together during a recent concert for a star-studded tribute to late rock icon Tom Petty. Readers can press play above to watch Harris, Earle, Patty Griffin and Dave Matthews perform a cover of Petty's "Refugee."
The four artists performed their stunning cover of the Petty classic, appropriately, at a Lampedusa: Concerts for Refugees tour stop in Seattle, Wash. Each artist put their own twist on various parts the song, including a haunting verse from Harris and an incredible chorus from Matthews. Harmonies between all four musical powerhouses rounded the cover out, making for a pretty powerful moment. Throughout the performance, the audience roared with approval.
Many in the music community have been expressing their grief over the loss of Petty, who died on Oct. 2, at the age of 66, after going into cardiac arrest. In the days since his death, countless tributes to the rocker have been performed by artists in a number of different genres. Petty is known for hits such as “American Girl,” “Mary Jane’s Last Dance,” and of course, “Refugee.”
The Lampedusa: Concerts for Refugees shows have been going on since last fall. The series is named for the Italian island of Lampedusa, off the coast of Sicily, which serves as a stopping point for many refugees, and is hosted by Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) to benefit their Global Education Initiative.
Country Artists Mourn Tom Petty