Tree63
OriginDurban, South Africa
GenresContemporary Christian music, contemporary worship music
Years active1996–2009, 2014–present
LabelsInPop, Survivor
MembersJohn Ellis
Darryl Swart
Daniel Ornellas
Past membersScoop
Martin "Mort" Engel
Thinus "Tain" Odendaal
Ferg "Fern" Garrison

Tree63 is a contemporary Christian music band from Durban, South Africa.

History

1996 - 2000: Formation and initial years

The band was formed in 1996 and originally, it was unnamed. In 1997, the band had to come up with a name before performing at North Beach, Durban, and came up with "Tree". They added the "63" part of their name in 2000 due to a naming conflict with an American band.[1] 63 had been the name of their second album, which was named in reference to Psalm 63.[2]

'We were originally just "Tree", after the numerous references in the Bible to trees: the garden of Eden, the cross Jesus hung on etc. "63" was the title of our second record, and it came from Psalm 63. When we got to the States in 2000, we discovered a band in Boston called "Tree" already, and they were unwilling to give up their band name, so we had to either alter or change ours. The compromise was "Tree63".'

— John Ellis, Interview with Christian Music Daily

[1]

2001 - 2009: Popularity & move to America

Their first album released in the United States, Tree63, won the GMA Dove Award for Rock Album of the Year in 2001.[3]

Tree63's recording of Matt Redman's "Blessed Be Your Name" peaked at number 2 on the US Billboard Christian Songs chart,[4] and helped to spark the song's popularity. This recording was featured on the 2005 edition of WOW Hits and was nominated for two Dove Awards. On a 2 February 2007 broadcast of 20, The Countdown Magazine (special edition, Praise and Worship), guest Chris Tomlin described Tree63's rendition of "Blessed Be Your Name" as "...the definitive recording of one of the most all-encompassing songs in the entire world of Christian music." The song was then announced as the number 3 Praise and Worship song of all time.[5]

Tree63 parted ways in 2009, and John Ellis returned to South Africa, where he started his solo career. His debut solo album, Come Out Fighting, was released in June 2010.

2015–2015: Reunion

Splashy Fen Music Festival announced that Tree63 would be part of their line-up in 2014.[6]

In November 2014, Tree63 released previously unreleased songs from 2006 which were recorded during the sessions for their Sunday! album. [7]

After reconvening in 2014 for a series of celebratory South African concerts, talk of a new album and resumed live work resurfaced and the band began work on their new album in Nashville in November 2014. Land was released in November 2015[8]

Since 2015 John Ellis has returned to South Africa and continued releasing music.

Members

Current

  • John Ellis — vocals, guitar, piano
  • Darryl Swart — drums
  • Daniel Ornellas — bass

Former

  • Thinus "Tain" Odendaal — drums
  • Jon "Scoop" Randall — bass, backing vocals
  • Martin "Mort" Engel — bass

Discography

Studio albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions, sales and certifications
Title Details Peak positions
US Christ.
[9]		 US Heat.
[10]
Overflow
(as "Tree")		 ——
63
(as "Tree")		 ——
Tree63 ——
The Life and Times of Absolute Truth ——
The Answer to the Question 3229
Worship Volume One: I Stand For You ——
Sunday 3247
Blessed Be Your Name: The Hits ——
Land ——

EP

  • UNFINISHED DREAM – Songs from the Sunday Sessions [11]

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Year Title Peak positions Album
US Christ.
[12]		 US Christ. AC
[13]
2002 "Be All End All" —— The Life and Times Of Absolute Truth
"Anxious Seat" ——
2004 "Blessed Be Your Name" 22 The Answer to the Question
"King" 2221
2005 "Maker Of All Things" 3333
2006 "I Stand For You" 1514 Worship Volume One: I Stand for You
"All Over The World" 53
2007 "Sunday" 1412 Sunday
2015 "The Storm" —— Land
"Standing On It" ——

Awards

Tree63, won the GMA Dove Award for Rock Album of the Year in 2001.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 Christian Music Daily Archived 24 June 2008 at archive.today. Interview with John Ellis of Tree63, 2007. Retrieved 2009-11-25.
  2. ↑ Powell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (First printing ed.). Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. pp. 959–960. ISBN 1-56563-679-1.
  3. 1 2 "Dove Award Recipients for 2001 Archived 20 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine". Published by the Gospel Music Association. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
  4. ↑ Billboard Christian Songs Chart dated August 21, 2004
  5. ↑ 20 The Countdown Magazine
  6. ↑ "Splashy Fen #25 The 'Must-Do' Event Of The Year". Archived from the original on 23 April 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  7. ↑ "365 Days Of Inspiring Media - Music Reviews: Tree63 - Unfinished Dream". Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  8. ↑ Rice, Mark (12 December 2015). "Tree63, "Land" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
  9. ↑ "Tree63 Chart history: Top Christian Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on 19 November 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  10. ↑ "Tree63 Chart History: Heatseeker Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  11. 1 2 "Discogs.com: Tree63 discography". Discogs. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  12. ↑ "Tree63 - Chart history (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 19 November 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  13. ↑ "Tree63 - Chart history (Christian AC Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 19 November 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
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