Watch: Daniel Donato Presents “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” Tribute to Gram Parsons

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Daniel Donato has released a haunting solo cover of Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” at the Joshua Tree Inn as a tribute to Gram Parsons. Seated outside room 8–where the country rock innovator famously spent his last moments before passing from a morphine overdose–Donato plays from the heart in a loving homage to the gravity of the place and the legacy of a great influence. This video follows Donato’s final winter West Coast show, where the artist covered Parsons’ “Ooh Las Vegas” for the second time in his career.

Last Monday, Jan. 22, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country capped off the first leg of its 2024 tour with a performance at the storied saloon Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneertown, Calif., just outside Joshua Tree. Donato took this chance to salute Parsons with a cover of “Ooh Las Vegas” as the second selection in his set, allowing the song from Parson’s posthumous sophomore solo album to ring out to the hallowed desert retreat where he had his famous final act. Parsons, who coined “Cosmic American Music” to term his innovative blend of traditional country storytelling and rock songwriting, paved the way for a new guard of crossover country stars and remains a North Star for descendants like Donato, who regularly visit the Joshua Tree Inn as a pilgrimage site.

Donato made his devotion widely known by releasing his moving tribute video yesterday, Jan. 28, which shows the artist in a contemplative mood alongside an etched stone shrine to his icon. On the occasion and his intentions, Donato writes, “We had the sincere pleasure to stay at The Joshua Tree Inn as we closed out our last show of the first tour of 2024 in Pioneer Town, CA. The Cosmic Connections were in the air, and this song came to me when I was wondering what song I could sing for Gram Parsons. I hope you find beauty, truth, and goodness in this rendition of an eternally enduring piece of music.” Read on to experience this powerful moment for yourself.

Donato returns to the road again on Feb. 2, where he will perform at The Ramkat in Winston-Salem N.C. to kick off his 13-stop East Coast run, which he will follow with two shows aboard the highly anticipated 2024 Jam Cruise. For tickets and more information on the artist’s upcoming performances, visit danieldonato.com/tour