Tree63

Formed in Durban (South Africa) in 1997, Tree63 is one of the most successful and beloved musical exports in South African music history. Led since inception by singer-songwriter and guitar player John Ellis, Tree63 first reached the top of the charts with massive hits, including ‘Treasure’, ‘Stumbling Stone’, and ‘A Million Lights’, attracting the attention of US record label InPop Records. Relea...

Formed in Durban (South Africa) in 1997, Tree63 is one of the most successful and beloved musical exports in South African music history. Led since inception by singer-songwriter and guitar player John Ellis, Tree63 first reached the top of the charts with massive hits, including ‘Treasure’, ‘Stumbling Stone’, and ‘A Million Lights’, attracting the attention of US record label InPop Records. Releasing their debut US album in 2000, number-one US radio hits followed, along with that year’s Dove Award for Rock Album of the Year.

The band followed up with 2002’s ‘The Life and Times of Absolute Truth’, yielding such hits as ‘Anxious Seat’ and ‘No Words’. In 2003, they released ‘The Answer to the Question’, which produced Billboard’s #1 radio song for 2004: the band’s version of Matt Redman’s ‘Blessed Be Your Name’, as well as radio hits ‘King’ (an ASCAP Song of the Year for John in 2004) and ‘You Only’. After two more albums, Tree63 disbanded when John moved back to South Africa from Nashville. The band reconvened briefly for 2015’s ‘Land’ album and a tour of South Africa.

Between 1997 and 2015, Tree63 toured extensively, performing in the UK, the US, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Holland, Zimbabwe, Australia, and New Zealand, and released seven studio albums. In 2024, the time has finally come (with the blessing of Darryl Swart and Daniel Ornellas, Tree63 stalwarts now living overseas) for John Ellis to bring the mighty Tree63 back to the live arena. With a stellar new lineup, Tree63 is set to deliver the powerful songs that have brought entertainment, joy, and meaning to so many over the years, with refreshed energy and purpose.

Tree63's new single, “How Much Longer?” (Friday, 21 November 2025) marks their first new single in a decade, produced by John Ellis and Dave Langemann. How Much Longer?" serves as the first preview of a full new album expected in early 2026, selected from roughly 30 songs written for the project. Langemann has lent his expertise as a producer, mixer, and engineer to artists like Freshly Ground, Karen Zoid, Msaki, Mandisi, and the late legend Johnny Clegg.

"How Much Longer?" returns to the core DNA of TREE63’s music: hope in God, hope in each other. This is their new chapter in the band’s story of faith, hope, and rock ’n’ roll.

TREE63 is; John Ellis (Guitars, Vocals), Angus Warden (Drums) Deon Knipe – (Bass, Vocals)