Also known as Thomas Tree Origin Denver, Colorado, U.S. | Years active 1981–present Name Thomas Tree | |
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Birth name Thomas McDonnell Sebastian Tree Murray Born 22 February 1962 (age 62) ( 1962-02-22 ) Genres Rock, alternative rock, electronic Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, record producer | ||
Thomas Tree (born February 22, 1962) is an American music producer, singer, songwriter, musician, entrepreneur and is best known as a founding member of the alternative rock band Christy McCool and co-founder of the production and sound-design team, Enlighten Records. Tree and his wife, Jade Vaccarelli, have resided in Malibu, California since 1992.
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Early life
Thomas Tree was born Thomas McDonnell Sebastian Tree Murray to Colleen McDonnell and Paul V Murray in Denver, Colorado. While studying Mass Media at the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1981, Tree began a songwriting collaboration with guitarist CJC (Cory Joseph Coppage). The partnership continues to this day and has produced over 100 original songs, including "How Does She Do It So Quickly” from the soundtrack of the Academy-Award nominated film “Short Cuts”, directed by Robert Altman. Robert Reed Altman, the son of “Short Cuts” director Robert Altman directed the video for the song, which also starred Altman’s son Bobby and Tree’s wife, Jade.
Tree and CJC were founding members of several projects during Tree’s college days, including The Mile Highs and The Trees. The Trees were regulars at the Blue Note, a Boulder nightclub where they performed with the likes of Hüsker Dü, Mau Mau 55, Firehose, Aviators, Buddy Rich and Psychic TV (with New Order's Peter Hook on bass).
When Tree and CJC moved their partnership to Hollywood in 1986, they renamed the project Bodhitrees. In addition to Tree and CJC, Bodhitrees included Ronnie Nelson (Bass) James "Fabe" Fabery- (Guitar) Michael King (Bass) Alexander Christopher (Guitar) and drummer Ron Rosing (from Billy Corgan's first band "The Marked").
Tree was also hired by Rolling Stones producer Don Was to film the first 360-video with 'birds-eye' technology of a Rolling Stones concert at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 4, 2006. Tree (Tectonic Phlegm Publishing) has been a member of ASCAP since 1988.
Christy McCool
In September 1988, Tree formed a band with Neil McAnally, Kat Robinson and Terrence Lee Henry, who were all tenants of the same apartment building in Hollywood, CA. At this time, another tenant in the building took a dangerous amount of prescription medication and lit her bed, and room, on fire. Tree, who was also manager of the building, was forced to evict the tenant, but the group decided to name their newly formed band after her.
Christy McCool’s first L.A. performance was at Gazzarri's Music Hall (now The Key Club) on the Sunset Strip. In late 1989, the band released their debut album "Lovelier than the Queen of England" and toured the Western and Southern U.S., as well as parts of Europe. During this time, they also performed with, or were on compilation recordings with bands like X, L-Seven, GWAR, Pygmy Love Circus, Faith No More, 45 Grave, Stan Red Fox, Swamp Zombies, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Fishbone among others.
In 1991, Intercord Records released a compilation CD entitled “Funky Metal” which included the song “Mo Fo” by Christy McCool. Christy McCool’s final line-up was made up of Tree on vocals, Neil McAnally on bass, Jason D on guitar and Tom Wenzel on drums.
Subsonic Sonar
In 2001, Tree partnered with Mazen Daouk and Sound Engineer / Co-Producer and Professor of Sound Design at the University of South Carolina, Walter Clissen to form the experimental electronic-music project, Subsonic Sonar. After a decade of development, they released “Emerald Green Vortex” in 2011. The album is a mix of Trip hop and electronic ambience and opera that they refer to as “Triphopera”.
The operatic vocals by Van Oosterwijk were recorded at Studio Excelsior in the Netherlands, while Tree, Daouk and Clissen recorded the music at Studio Zen in Venice, California. Poetry and lyrics were written and performed by Jade Vaccarelli and Thomas Tree.