Colorado Springs Musician Nathaniel Rateliff Inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame
- Maranda Rights
- Feb 1
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Nathaniel Ratecliff - From Colorado Springs to the Colorado Music Hall of Fame
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats were officially inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame during their sold-out holiday show at Mission Ballroom late last year on December 1, 2025. This being a milestone moment for an artist whose journey was shaped in Colorado long before the spotlight found him.
Though born in Missouri, Rateliff’s musical identity was forged in Colorado Springs and Denver, where years of grinding in clubs, churches, and small rooms laid the foundation for what would come later. Like many artists in Southern Colorado, his rise was anything but fast. It was built on side jobs, uncertain breaks, and an unshakable commitment to the music when success felt far away.
Early projects like Born in the Flood earned regional respect and national touring opportunities, but not the breakthrough many expected. Labels came and went. Expectations rose and fell. By the early 2010s, Rateliff found himself at a familiar crossroads for independent musicians: keep going, or walk away.
Instead, he reinvented.
While touring with Chuck Ragan’s Revival Tour, Rateliff unlocked a grittier, soul-driven vocal style that would soon define a new chapter. A last-minute show at Denver’s Bluebird Theater forced the creation of a song meant to move a crowd - and “S.O.B.” was born. The track exploded in 2015, topping Billboard’s Adult Alternative chart and introducing Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats to the world.
The debut album went gold, selling over a million copies worldwide. Since then, the band has released four studio albums, earned Americana Music Association honors, and toured internationally, all while carrying Colorado’s sound far beyond state lines.
Rateliff’s impact extends well past the stage. Through The Marigold Project, he’s invested in communities facing economic, racial, and social injustice. His recent appointment as Newport Folk Steward, the first since the festival’s founding, further cements his role as both artist and advocate.
During the Colorado Music Hall of Fame induction, surrounded by longtime bandmates and a packed room, Rateliff spoke directly to the crowd: “You guys are our community. We’re here for you, and you’ve been here for us.”
For Southern Colorado, this moment is bigger than an accolade. It’s proof that the long road, the small rooms, and the relentless belief still matter, and that artists raised in this scene can leave a permanent mark on music history.
Also recently Farm Aid made this most recent announcement:
“We're excited to announce that Nathaniel Rateliff has joined the Farm Aid Board of Directors! After a unanimous vote, he will work alongside founders Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp, fellow artist board members Dave Matthews and Margo Price and a team of industry professionals. Rateliff is the third artist to be added to Farm Aid's Board since its original founding.
"Farm Aid has made a huge impact on me. It is always one of my favorite events of the year. It is an honor and a privilege to join my heroes and peers as a Farm Aid board member. I look forward to working together to continue educating the public on the struggles family farmers face and to raise money to support them for a better future." - Nathaniel Rateliff
The Farm Aid Board has guided the organization for 40 years, working year-round to build an agricultural system that values family farmers, good food, healthy soil and water, and strong rural communities. Deeply committed to Farm Aid's mission, the Board artists anchor the annual festival — an event that offers unforgettable music while also raising critical funds, growing public awareness, celebrating family farmers and galvanizing support for them across the country. These artist-leaders stay closely connected to the people and places they support, elevating the voices of farmers from diverse backgrounds and using their own voices to amplify the urgent issues shaping the future of agriculture.
Rateliff is a steadfast ally of Farm Aid, first performing for Farm Aid's community of loyal supporters at Farm Aid Eve in 2013 and then returning repeatedly to the stage since 2016. Over the years, he has shown up not just as a performer, but as an advocate off the main stage, appearing frequently as a featured speaker on the FarmYard Stage and lending his voice through interviews, podcasts and other opportunities to elevate the organization's mission.”
