Editing Tree63 (section)

==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.<ref name="CMD">[http://www.christianmusicdaily.com/content/view/37/64/ Christian Music Daily] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20080624124719/http://www.christianmusicdaily.com/content/view/37/64/ |date=24 June 2008 }}. Interview with John Ellis of Tree63, 2007. Retrieved 2009-11-25.</ref> ''63'' had been the name of their second album, which was named in reference to [[Psalms|Psalm]] 63.<ref name="Powell_Fe">{{cite book |last=Powell |first=Mark Allan |title=Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music |year=2002 |publisher=Hendrickson Publishers |location=[[Peabody, Massachusetts|Peabody]], [[Massachusetts]] |isbn=1-56563-679-1 |edition=First printing |pages=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofco00mark/page/959 959–960] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofco00mark/page/959 }}</ref>

{{blockquote|'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}}<ref name="CMD" />

===2001 - 2009: Popularity and Move to America===

Their first album released in the United States, ''[[Tree63 (album)|Tree63]]'', won the [[GMA Dove Award]] for Rock Album of the Year in 2001.<ref name="DOVE">"[http://www.doveawards.com/history/browse.cfm?year=2001 Dove Award Recipients for 2001] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020022928/http://www.doveawards.com/history/browse.cfm?year=2001 |date=20 October 2006 }}". Published by the [[Gospel Music Association]]. Retrieved 2007-02-21.</ref>

Tree63's recording of [[Matt Redman]]'s "Blessed Be Your Name" peaked at number 2 on the US Billboard [[Christian Songs]] chart,<ref>[https://www.billboard.com/charts/christian-songs/2004-08-21 Billboard Christian Songs Chart dated August 21, 2004]</ref> and helped to spark the song's popularity. This recording was featured on the 2005 edition of [[WOW Hits 2005|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.<ref>[http://www.20countdown.com 20 The Countdown Magazine<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{full citation needed|date=September 2020}}</ref>

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.

===2014 - 2015: Reunion with Ornellas and Swart===

[[Splashy Fen]] Music Festival announced that Tree63 would be part of their line-up in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=Splashy Fen #25 The 'Must-Do' Event Of The Year|url=http://www.splashyfen.co.za/index.php/splashy-fen-25-the-must-do-event-of-the-year/|accessdate=23 April 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20140423144559/http://www.splashyfen.co.za/index.php/splashy-fen-25-the-must-do-event-of-the-year/|archivedate=23 April 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In November 2014, Tree63 released previously unreleased songs from 2006 which were recorded during the sessions for their ''Sunday! ''album.
<ref>{{cite web|title=365 Days Of Inspiring Media - Music Reviews: Tree63 - Unfinished Dream|url=https://www.365daysofinspiringmedia.com/reviews/tree63-unfinished-dream/|accessdate=12 December 2023|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202105613/https://www.365daysofinspiringmedia.com/reviews/tree63-unfinished-dream/|archivedate=2 February 2023|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

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<ref name="JFH-Land">{{cite web |first=Mark |last=Rice |title=Tree63, "Land" Review |url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/Land.asp |publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout |accessdate=December 12, 2015|date=December 12, 2015}}</ref>

=== 2024 - 2025: New Members, Shows and Recording ===
In 2024, John Ellis relaunched the Tree63 brand with new members Angus Warden (drums, vocals) and Deon Knipe (bass, vocals), both accomplished and seasoned musicians.

The band is touring through 2025 and plans to record new material for global release in 2025-26.