By The Tree Biography
Who is By The Tree?
Founded in 1997 in Weatherford by Chuck Dennie and Bala Boyd, By The Tree began as a worship project serving churches and youth groups across Texas. What started locally quickly expanded throughout the southern and southwestern United States, where consistent touring built a devoted following.
In 1999, the band released 2 independent, self-produced albums, Passion for Jesus and Shoot Me Down, selling them at concerts. By 2001, those projects had sold a combined 30,000 copies, drawing the attention of Fervent Records. Their national debut, Invade My Soul (2001), introduced a polished pop-rock sound and earned 2 Dove Awards, including Modern Rock/Alternative Album of the Year and Recorded Song of the Year for the title track.
The band followed with These Days (2002), Root (2003), Hold You High (2004), and World on Fire (2006). In 2004, By The Tree achieved a No. 1 hit on Billboard's Christian charts with "Beautiful One," their popular rendition of the song written by Tim Hughes, which held the top spot for 4 weeks. Additional radio favorites included "Hold You High" and "Only to You."
After Chuck Dennie departed in 2005 to focus on worship ministry and production work in Franklin, Tennessee, Aaron Blanton stepped into the lead vocal role. The band concluded its recording career with the 2007 compilation Beautiful One: The Best of By the Tree.
Active from 1997 to 2007, By The Tree released 2 independent albums and 5 studio albums under Fervent Records, along with 1 greatest hits collection, remaining a popular act in early-2000s contemporary Christian rock.