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. So John Ellis, the group's founder, came up with the name Tree because he was standing under one. They added the 63 in 2000 due to a naming conflict with an American band. 63 had been the name of their second album, which was named in reference to Psalm 63.

Their first album released in the United States, Tree63, won the GMA Dove Award for "Rock Album of the Year" in 2001.

Tree63's recording of Matt Redman's "Blessed Be Your Name" helped to spark the song's popularity. This recording was featured on the 2005 editon of WOW Hits. On a February 2, 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.