By the Tree is a two-time Dove Award-winning contemporary Christian rock group.

Overview

As with most aspiring musical groups, By the Tree got their start playing a series of small venues — predominantly churches — throughout the southern and southwestern United States. Their near-constant touring cultivated a sizeable fan base.

In 1999 they released two independent, self-produced CDs, which they sold at their concerts. By 2001, these two CDs had sold a combined 30,000 units, which more than recouped their production costs, and additionally brought them to the attention of the Gospel music industry.

The band eventually signed with Fervent Records, part of the BMG music publishing company. Their first national U.S. commercial recording was Invade My Soul. The album charted in the Billboard Top 40 in the Contemporary Christian and Independent categories. The album eventually went on to win two Dove Awards: The album

The band has gone through numerous lineup changes since signing with Fervent. Drummer Aaron Blanton joined the group prior to the recording of Invade My Soul, and bassist Ben Davis joined in 2002 for the recording of These Days. Original member Kevin Rhoads left the band shortly after the release of These Days and was replaced by Charlie Goddard, who left the band in 2003 to join the Jeff Deyo Band.

By the Tree has released four albums under the Fervent label, and they remain one of the more popular acts in Contemporary Christian music.

Current members

• Chuck Dennie – vocals, guitar
• Ben Davis – bass, keyboards, vocals
• Aaron Blanton – drums, percussion, vocals

Former members

• Kevin Rhoads – vocals, guitar
• Charlie Goddard – vocals, guitar

Discography

• Passion for Jesus (1999) Self-produced and distributed
• Shoot Me Down (1999) Self-produced and distributed
• Invade My Soul (2001)
• These Days (2002)
• Root (2003)
• Hold You High (2004)

External link

Official By the Tree homepage (requires Macromedia Flash)